Lexical analysis, popularly known as lexical scanning or tokenization, is the process of analyzing a sequence of characters or string of symbols to identify the individual components that make up the sequence. The process involves breaking down the sequence into individual units or tokens that can be later processed and analyzed by a program. Other synonyms for lexical analysis include lexical parsing, lexical tokenization, and lexical scanning. The aim of this process is to facilitate the efficient and effective use of the sequence for different purposes, such as data processing, natural language processing, and database searches. Overall, lexical analysis plays a vital role in modern computing and programming.