escape character

noun

A single metacharacter, usually a control code, which in a sequence of characters signifies that what is to follow takes an alternative interpretation. The term escape sequence refers to the escape character and the subsequent character or characters so modified.

“In the C programming language, the backslash is an escape character; for example, \n represents a newline.”

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Meanings

nounescape character (plural escape characters)

plural escape characters

  1. communicationsA single metacharacter, usually a control code, which in a sequence of characters signifies that what is to follow takes an alternative interpretation. The term escape sequence refers to the escape character and the subsequent character or characters so modified.

    In the C programming language, the backslash is an escape character; for example, \n represents a newline.

Origin

From escape + character.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 转义字符
  • 转义字符 (zhuǎnyì zìfú)Translations
Finnish koodinvaihtomerkki, suojausmerkki
  • koodinvaihtomerkkiTranslations
  • suojausmerkkiTranslations
Greek χαρακτήρας διαφυγής
  • χαρακτήρας διαφυγής (charaktíras diafygís)Translations
Spanish carácter de escape
  • carácter de escapeTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

escape character. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/escape%20character

MLA

“escape character.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/escape%20character. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “escape character,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/escape%20character.

Source: escape character on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.