The , also called the reverse slash , is a very useful character in certain fields such as programming or DOS commands . It is written "\" and is distinct from the regular slash, which is written "/" . But how do you type this symbol on an AZERTY or QWERTY keyboard? Here are a few tips to help you do it easily.
What is a backslash and what is its purpose?
The backslash is a character that was invented in 1960 by Bob Bemer , an American computer scientist working on early computers. He created it to resolve the ambiguity between the minus sign and the hyphen . He chose this symbol because it was not used in the programming languages of the time.
The backslash has several uses depending on the context:
- In programming languages such as C, C++, Java, or Python , it is used to indicate a special character or an escape sequence. For example, "\n" represents a newline, "\t" a tab, "\"" a double quote, etc.
- Windows commands , it is used to separate the elements of a file or folder path. For example, "C:\ Windows \System32" refers to the System32 located on the C drive.
- In regular expressions, it is used to escape a character that has a special meaning. For example, "\d" represents a digit, "\w" a letter or a digit, "\s" a space, etc.
- In some software programs like Excel or Word, it's used to insert functions or formulas. For example, "=SUM(A1:A10)" calculates the sum of the values from cell A1 to cell A10. Similarly, to perform a subtraction in Excel , simply use the minus sign (-) between two values or two cell references. For example, "=B1-B2" subtracts the value in cell B2 from the value in cell B1.
How do I type a backslash on an AZERTY keyboard?
On a French AZERTY keyboard, the backslash is not directly accessible. A key combination must be used to make it appear. There are two possibilities:
- Type your ASCII code by holding down the Alt key and entering 92 on the numeric keypad.
- Use the key combination Alt Gr + 8 (or Ctrl + Alt + 8) on some keyboards.
How do I type a backslash on a QWERTY keyboard?
On a Canadian or American QWERTY keyboard , the backslash is easier to type. Simply press the key located in the top left corner of the keyboard , below the Esc . On some keyboards, you need to press the Shift key at the same time.
How do I type a backslash on a Mac?
On a Mac, the backslash can also be accessed via a key combination. You must simultaneously press the Alt (or Option) and Shift keys and the / key (which is located next to the period) .
FAQ
What is the difference between a slash and a backslash?
The forward slash is written "/" and the backslash is written "\" . The forward slash is used, among other things, to separate elements in a URL or to indicate a fraction. The backslash is used, among other things, to indicate a special character or to separate elements in a file path.
How do I type a slash on an AZERTY keyboard?
To type a slash on an AZERTY keyboard, you need to press the / key (which is next to the dot) or use the key combination Alt Gr + / (or Ctrl + Alt + /) .
How do you type a slash on a QWERTY keyboard?
To type a slash on a qwerty keyboard, you need to press the / key (which is next to the dot) or use the Shift + 7 key .
How do I type a slash on a Mac?
To type a slash on a Mac, you need to press the / key (which is next to the dot) or use the key combination Alt (or Option) + / .
How do I copy and paste a backslash?
To copy and paste a backslash, select it with your mouse or keyboard, then use the shortcut Ctrl + C to copy and Ctrl + V to paste. On a Mac, use the Cmd instead of Ctrl .
Conclusion
The backslash is a character with many uses depending on the context. It's not always easy to type on an AZERTY or QWERTY keyboard , but there are tricks to get there . On a Mac, you need to use a specific key combination . Now you know how to type this symbol on Windows and Mac . But are you familiar with the principles of object-oriented programming ? This is a programming paradigm that allows you to structure code using concepts like classes, objects, inheritance, and polymorphism . If you want to learn more about this fascinating topic, you can check out our detailed tutorial on our website.
