In writing:
* To enclose information that is not essential to the main sentence, but adds detail or clarification.
* For example: "The dog (a golden retriever) chased the ball."
* To enclose a list of items.
* For example: "I bought apples (red, green, and yellow), bananas, and oranges."
* To separate a phrase or clause that is grammatically independent but closely related to the main sentence.
* For example: "He went to the store (he needed milk). "
* To enclose parenthetical expressions like abbreviations or acronyms.
* For example: "He works for the United Nations (UN)."
* To enclose numbers or letters in lists.
* For example: "The steps are as follows: (1) gather your materials, (2) follow the instructions, and (3) enjoy the results."
In coding:
* To group expressions and change the order of operations.
* For example: `(2 + 3) * 4` will calculate 5 * 4 = 20, while `2 + 3 * 4` will calculate 2 + 12 = 14.
* To pass arguments to functions.
* For example: `print("Hello, world!")` will print the text "Hello, world!" to the console.
* To create tuples.
* For example: `(1, 2, 3)` is a tuple containing the numbers 1, 2, and 3.
Other uses:
* In mathematical formulas, to indicate the order of operations or to group expressions.
* For example: `(a + b) / c` indicates that the sum of `a` and `b` should be divided by `c`.
* In phone numbers and other formats.
* For example: (555) 123-4567.
Note:
* Parentheses are often used in conjunction with other punctuation marks, such as commas, semicolons, and periods.
* It's important to use parentheses correctly to avoid confusion and ensure clarity in your writing and coding.
It's also important to note that parentheses are distinct from brackets ([ ]), which are used for different purposes in both writing and coding.