Quick overview

Before learning every feature in details, let's overview the basics of Lua syntax.

Variables

You don't need some special keyword to define a variable, you just define them right away, like you do in PHP for example. Also, you don't need to end the expression with some special token like semicolon:

name = "Sam"
email = "admin@samblog.com"
wallet = 100

You can define or reassign multiple variables in a single expression like that:

name, email = "Sam", "admin@samblog.com"

Control flow

if statement:

if a > b then
    print("a is greater than b")
end

while statement:

while a < b do
    a = next(a)
end

for statement:

for i = 1, 10 do
    print(i)
end

repeat-until statement:

repeat
    a = next(a)
until a >= b

Functions

Function example:

function add(a, b)
    return a + b
end

print(add(10, 15))

Anonymous functions are supported as well:

function apply(value, fun)
    return fun(value)
end

print(apply(15, function(value) return value * 10 end))

Arrays and tables

Defining an array:

primes = {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13}

print(primes[4])

Defining a table:

person =
{
    name = "Sam",
    email = "admin@samblog.com",
    wallet = 100
}

print(person.name)

Comments

There are two types of comments in Lua:

-- This is a single-line comment
print("Foo")

--[[ This is
a multiline
comment --]]

print("Bar")

Alright, now you have a taste of basic Lua syntax constructions. Let's learn them one by one in details now.