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+# GBNF Guide
+
+GBNF (GGML BNF) is a format for defining [formal grammars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formal_grammar) to constrain model outputs in `llama.cpp`. For example, you can use it to force the model to generate valid JSON, or speak only in emojis. GBNF grammars are supported in various ways in `examples/main` and `examples/server`.
+
+## Background
+
+[Bakus-Naur Form (BNF)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backus%E2%80%93Naur_form) is a notation for describing the syntax of formal languages like programming languages, file formats, and protocols. GBNF is an extension of BNF that primarily adds a few modern regex-like features.
+
+## Basics
+
+In GBNF, we define *production rules* that specify how a *non-terminal* (rule name) can be replaced with sequences of *terminals* (characters, specifically Unicode [code points](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_point)) and other non-terminals. The basic format of a production rule is `nonterminal ::= sequence...`.
+
+## Example
+
+Before going deeper, let's look at some of the features demonstrated in `grammars/chess.gbnf`, a small chess notation grammar:
+```
+# `root` specifies the pattern for the overall output
+root ::= (
+    # it must start with the characters "1. " followed by a sequence
+    # of characters that match the `move` rule, followed by a space, followed
+    # by another move, and then a newline
+    "1. " move " " move "\n"
+
+    # it's followed by one or more subsequent moves, numbered with one or two digits
+    ([1-9] [0-9]? ". " move " " move "\n")+
+)
+
+# `move` is an abstract representation, which can be a pawn, nonpawn, or castle.
+# The `[+#]?` denotes the possibility of checking or mate signs after moves
+move ::= (pawn | nonpawn | castle) [+#]?
+
+pawn ::= ...
+nonpawn ::= ...
+castle ::= ...
+```
+
+## Non-Terminals and Terminals
+
+Non-terminal symbols (rule names) stand for a pattern of terminals and other non-terminals. They are required to be a dashed lowercase word, like `move`, `castle`, or `check-mate`.
+
+Terminals are actual characters ([code points](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_point)). They can be specified as a sequence like `"1"` or `"O-O"` or as ranges like `[1-9]` or `[NBKQR]`.
+
+## Characters and character ranges
+
+Terminals support the full range of Unicode. Unicode characters can be specified directly in the grammar, for example `hiragana ::= [ぁ-ゟ]`, or with escapes: 8-bit (`\xXX`), 16-bit (`\uXXXX`) or 32-bit (`\UXXXXXXXX`).
+
+Character ranges can be negated with `^`:
+```
+single-line ::= [^\n]+ "\n"`
+```
+
+## Sequences and Alternatives
+
+The order of symbols in a sequence matter. For example, in `"1. " move " " move "\n"`, the `"1. "` must come before the first `move`, etc.
+
+Alternatives, denoted by `|`, give different sequences that are acceptable. For example, in `move ::= pawn | nonpawn | castle`, `move` can be a `pawn` move, a `nonpawn` move, or a `castle`.
+
+Parentheses `()` can be used to group sequences, which allows for embedding alternatives in a larger rule or applying repetition and optptional symbols (below) to a sequence.
+
+## Repetition and Optional Symbols
+
+- `*` after a symbol or sequence means that it can be repeated zero or more times.
+- `+` denotes that the symbol or sequence should appear one or more times.
+- `?` makes the preceding symbol or sequence optional.
+
+## Comments and newlines
+
+Comments can be specified with `#`:
+```
+# defines optional whitspace
+ws ::= [ \t\n]+
+```
+
+Newlines are allowed between rules and between symbols or sequences nested inside parentheses. Additionally, a newline after an alternate marker `|` will continue the current rule, even outside of parentheses.
+
+## The root rule
+
+In a full grammar, the `root` rule always defines the starting point of the grammar. In other words, it specifies what the entire output must match.
+
+```
+# a grammar for lists
+root ::= ("- " item)+
+item ::= [^\n]+ "\n"
+```
+
+## Next steps
+
+This guide provides a brief overview. Check out the GBNF files in this directory (`grammars/`) for examples of full grammars. You can try them out with:
+```
+./main -m <model> --grammar-file grammars/some-grammar.gbnf -p 'Some prompt'
+```