Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
An escape sequence is a combination of characters that represents a special character and is used to perform certain actions within a string. It begins with a backslash (\) followed by one or more characters.
Related terms
Character: A single unit of information, such as a letter, digit, or punctuation mark.
Backslash: A special character (\) used to indicate that the next character should be treated differently, such as in an escape sequence.
Special Character: A character that has a specific meaning or function within programming languages.