What happens when a program contains a syntax error?

When a program contains a syntax error, it fails to compile or run. A syntax error occurs when the code does not conform to the rules of the programming language, such as missing a semicolon, incorrect use of parentheses, or misspelled keywords. The compiler or interpreter cannot understand or interpret the code due to these violations of syntax rules. As a result, the program will halt the compilation process and generate an error message, indicating the nature and location of the syntax issue. Until these errors are corrected, the program cannot be executed. This fundamental characteristic of programming languages ensures that only syntactically correct code is allowed to run.