What characterizes a syntax error?

A syntax error is characterized by incorrect usage of the programming language's syntax rules. This means that the code violates the grammatical structure of the programming language, which prevents the code from being compiled or interpreted properly. For example, if a programmer forgets to close a parenthesis, misspells a keyword, or uses the wrong symbol, the compiler or interpreter will flag these as syntax errors. These errors must be resolved before the code can execute, as the rules of the syntax are essential for the language to understand the intended commands.

In contrast, the other options describe different types of programming issues. A logic mistake refers to an error in the program logic that causes incorrect behavior during execution, usually without any syntax issues. An issue with variable scope pertains to how variables are accessed within different parts of the code, which is a conceptual issue rather than a syntax one. An error resulting in runtime failure occurs after the code has been successfully compiled and involves a problem that arises during execution, such as accessing null references or dividing by zero. Syntax errors, however, must be corrected before any execution can even take place.