What is the Alt code for the backslash?

On Windows, hold Alt and type 92 on the numeric keypad (Alt+92), or use Alt+0092 for the same result.

Why do Windows paths use backslash instead of forward slash?

MS-DOS adopted backslash as the path separator in the early 1980s because forward slash was already used for command-line switches. Modern Windows APIs still accept forward slashes in most contexts, but backslash remains the display default.

What does a backslash mean in a string like "\n"?

It starts an escape sequence. The backslash tells the parser that the next character has a special meaning rather than being literal text, so \n becomes a newline and \t becomes a tab instead of the two-character sequence.

How do I write a literal backslash in a string?

Escape it with a second backslash: \\. Most languages (JavaScript, Python, JSON, C) require doubling a backslash to represent one literal backslash character.

How do I type backslash on a UK or German keyboard?

On a Windows UK keyboard, backslash is on the key between the left Shift and Z, with no Shift needed. On a Mac with the British layout, it is the key next to Return. On a German QWERTZ keyboard, press AltGr + ß (the key next to 0) on Windows, or Option + Shift + 7 on a Mac.

What is the HTML entity for the backslash?

A raw backslash never needs escaping in HTML text. If a filter strips it, use the named entity \ (HTML5) or the numeric \. Avoid &Backslash;, which is the set minus sign ∖ (U+2216), not U+005C.

What is the Unicode code point for the backslash?

The backslash is U+005C, also called REVERSE SOLIDUS. It sits in the same ASCII range as the standard forward slash, punctuation, and digits.

Does backslash mean anything special in regular expressions?

Yes. In regex, backslash introduces character classes like \d (digit) and \w (word character), and it escapes metacharacters like a literal dot (\.) or a literal backslash itself (\\).

Why does the backslash show as ¥ or ₩ on my screen?

Older Japanese and Korean character sets put the yen and won signs at the code the backslash uses, so Japanese and Korean fonts often draw U+005C as ¥ or ₩. The character is still a backslash, and Windows paths and code escapes work as normal.

What is the difference between a backslash and a forward slash?

The backslash \ leans left and is used in Windows paths and escape sequences. The forward slash / leans right and is used in web addresses, macOS and Linux paths, dates and fractions. Choose Convert to forward slashes in the Try it box to switch a Windows path to / separators.

Backslash Symbol

Copy the backslash (\) and find its Unicode value, Alt code, and how it works as an escape character in code and Windows paths.

The backslash is \ (U+005C, reverse solidus).

Backslash Symbol

Click the symbol to copy it

Formats

Character \

Unicode U+005C

HTML entity (decimal) \

Escaped (string literal) \\

CSS escape \5c

URL encoded %5C

Click any row to copy that exact string.

Keyboard Shortcuts

System / layout	Shortcut	Notes
Windows (Alt code)		Hold Alt, type 92 on the numeric keypad.
Windows (Unicode)		Same result using the 4-digit code.
US keyboard (Win/Mac)		Its own key, just left of Enter on a US layout.
UK keyboard		Separate key left of Z, smaller than the US Enter-side key.
German keyboard		QWERTZ layouts place backslash on the ß key with AltGr.
French AZERTY keyboard		The 8 key doubles as backslash with AltGr.
Linux (GTK)		Type the hex code, then press Enter or Space.
Microsoft Word		Type 005C then press Alt+X to convert it.

Try it: escape a string

Paste a raw string (like a Windows path) and see the escaped version used in code, JSON, and regex.

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Quick answer

The backslash is \ (U+005C, reverse solidus). On a US keyboard it has its own key above Enter, and on Windows Alt + 92 also types it. In code and JSON one backslash is written as \\, so C:\Users\name\Documents becomes C:\\Users\\name\\Documents.

Examples

Where	How to type \
US keyboard	Its own key, above Enter
UK keyboard (PC)	Key left of Z
German keyboard	AltGr + ß
French keyboard	AltGr + 8
Windows Alt code	Alt + 92
HTML	\ or \
LaTeX	\textbackslash

Paste a path into the Try it box.

Summary

The backslash (\) is Unicode U+005C and separates Windows path components or starts escape sequences in code and regex. Copy it or find its HTML, Alt, and keyboard codes.

How it works

Click the large backslash to copy the plain character to your clipboard.
Or click any row in the Formats list to copy that exact encoded form (Unicode, HTML entity, escape sequence).
Check the keyboard shortcut table for your OS and keyboard layout to find the physical key.
Use the "Try it" box to see how a raw string escapes when it contains a backslash.

Use cases

Copy a Windows file path separator without an editor turning it into an emphasis marker.
Insert the escape character for a newline (\n), tab (\t), or literal backslash (\\) in code.
Type backslash on a keyboard layout where it is not next to Enter, such as UK or German.
Escape a backslash inside a regular expression so it matches a literal character.
Insert the HTML entity when a raw backslash gets mangled by a text filter.
Look up the Alt code for pasting into legacy software that blocks copy-paste.
Check whether a path string needs its backslashes doubled before use in JSON or a shell command.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-09 · Reviewed by Nham Vu

Backslash Symbol

Use the Backslash Symbol

Backslash Symbol

Formats

Keyboard Shortcuts

Try it: escape a string

Quick answer

Examples

Summary

How it works

Use cases

Frequently Asked Questions