> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://swlaschin.gitbook.io/fsharpforfunandprofit/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://swlaschin.gitbook.io/fsharpforfunandprofit/functional-patterns/understanding-parser-combinators.md).

# The "Understanding Parser Combinators" Series

In this series, we'll look at how so-called "applicative parsers" work. In order to understand something, there's nothing like building it for yourself, and so we'll create a basic parser library from scratch, then some useful "parser combinators", and then finish off by building a complete JSON parser.

* [Understanding Parser Combinators](/fsharpforfunandprofit/functional-patterns/understanding-parser-combinators/understanding-parser-combinators.md). Building a parser combinator library from scratch.
* [Building a useful set of parser combinators](/fsharpforfunandprofit/functional-patterns/understanding-parser-combinators/understanding-parser-combinators-2.md). 15 or so combinators that can be combined to parse almost anything.
* [Improving the parser library](/fsharpforfunandprofit/functional-patterns/understanding-parser-combinators/understanding-parser-combinators-3.md). Adding more informative errors.
* [Writing a JSON parser from scratch](/fsharpforfunandprofit/examples-and-walkthroughs/understanding-parser-combinators-4.md). In 250 lines of code.