Meaning & use

backslash

noun·Everyday

Last updated

A backward-slanting slash mark, unlike the more common forward slash, used in computer file paths, escape sequences, and code.

See it in a sentence

Windows file paths traditionally use a backslash to separate folder names.

She got an error because she typed a forward slash where a backslash was needed.

A note on using this word

Backslash and forward slash point in opposite directions and are rarely interchangeable, which trips up many people typing file paths or code for the first time.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “backslash”, then compare your use with the examples above.

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