> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.less.tech/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Introduction

> Supercharge your tool configuration

Syntax is a combination of a couple of different things: constants, operations, functions, parameters and column referencing. It can be be used to chain transformations inside a number of different tools. It generally helps reduce the number of tools you need to use.

<Tip>All syntax functions and operations are also available as standalone tools in the Canvas.</Tip>

Syntaxing enables you to do cool things like the following:

<Frame caption="Using function, operators, constants, parameters and column referencing in a single syntax statement. The current date is 2025-09-29 (i.e. TODAY constant).">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/less-51/djN6yMHrWL_J2lhR/images/canvas/syntax/Intro.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=djN6yMHrWL_J2lhR&q=85&s=31e49b0f00256d14e09b0cc616edfb55" alt="Intro" width="1998" height="1360" data-path="images/canvas/syntax/Intro.png" />
</Frame>

Here we do a number of things:

1. We have an IFF function that wraps a number of other statements.
2. For the *when* part of the IFF function, we first transform the *date\_string2* column to a datetime format using the DATETIME function
3. Still in the *when* part, we add the a number of days to our transformed *date\_string2* column using the DATEMATH operation and the *int\_col* column (we add the value of the *int\_col* column as days to the *date\_string2* column)
4. We then compare it to a TODAY constant
5. If it's greater than today, then we return the "WOOOOW" as a text literal (*then* part)
6. If it's not greater than today, we return the value of the textParam parameter - "this is cool" (*else* part)

### Where can I use Syntax?

You can use syntax in a number of different tools. Note that some tools only support parameters and/or column referencing. The most common tools for Syntax is the [New Column](/tools/new-columns/new-column), [IF Column](/tools/new-columns/if-column) and [Filter](/tools/basics/filter) tools. These are all the supported tools:

* [Directory](/tools/basics/directory): only Parameters in the "table name pattern" field
* [Save](/tools/basics/save-table): only Parameters in the "table name" field
* [Filter](/tools/basics/filter)
* [Replace](/tools/basics/replace): in the "value" field
* [Add Business Days](/tools/basics/save-table): only column references in the "column name" field
* [Date Math](/tools/new-columns/date-math): in the "number of units" field
* [IF Column](/tools/new-columns/if-column)
* [New Column](/tools/new-columns/new-column)
* [Row ID](/tools/new-columns/row-id): only column references in the "column name" field
* [API](/tools/utilities/api): only to reference columns in the "URL" and "body" fields
* [Validate](/tools/utilities/validate): only in the "message" field

### What's the difference between functions, operators and constants?

[Functions](/canvas/syntax-functions) are used around a column, a literal, a parameter or other expressions. They look like this: `FUNCTION(column/literal/parameter/expression)`.

[Operations](/canvas/syntax-operations) on the other hand are "attached" to a column, a literal, a parameter or other expressions. They look like this: `column/literal/parameter/expression.OPERATOR(someConfig)`. Notice the dot between the expression and the operator.

Lastly, [Constants](/canvas/syntax-constants) are used to represent a fixed value. They look like this: `TODAY` or `NULL`.