Escape sequences
Learn how to write special characters inside strings with \n, \t, \\ and \'.
Special characters: escape sequences
To write characters that have a special meaning inside a string you use escape sequences. They start with a backslash (\).
Common ones: \n (new line), \t (tab), \\ (a backslash itself), \' (single quote), \" (double quote).
For example "Line 1\nLine 2" gives a two line string. When you write a path you use "C:\\dev"; a single \ would be read as an escape.
Escaping the same quote
If a string starts with a single quote and you want a single quote inside, you must write the inner one as \'. Otherwise JavaScript closes the string there.
Example: 'Ayşe\'s book'. The same rule applies to double quotes inside double quotes: "He \"said\" that".
The easy path is to use a different quote on the outside. You only need an escape when you must use the same kind inside.
Exercise Join two lines with a new line
Declare firstLine as "Hello" and secondLine as "World". Build message as a template literal containing ${firstLine}, then the \n escape, then ${secondLine}. Log message with console.log.
Show example solution
const firstLine = "Hello";
const secondLine = "World";
const message = `${firstLine}\n${secondLine}`;
console.log(message);Test yourself
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How does the string "a\nb" appear on screen?
console.log("a\nb");- Two lines: a then b
- One line: anb
- It throws an error
- Three lines: a, blank, b
Show answer
Two lines: a then b — Correct. \n is a new line character; it prints a, breaks the line, then prints b.
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Write the new line escape
const line = "Satır 1____Satır 2";Show answer
const line = "Satır 1\nSatır 2"; -
Match each escape to its meaning
- \n
- New line
- \t
- Tab
- \\
- Backslash
- \'
- Single quote
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What does the string "C:\\dev" print?
console.log("C:\\dev");- C:\\dev
- C:dev
- C:\dev
- It throws an error
Show answer
C:\dev — Correct. When the source has \\ JavaScript reads it as a single \ and prints C:\dev.