Escape Sequences in Python

What are Escape Sequences?

Escape  Sequences refers to the combination of characters that begin with the backslash(\). They are non-printable characters which convey some special meaning to interpreter like to change a line , leave seven spaces etc.An escape sequence is used when writing sections of code, like preprocessors definitions, to specify continuation characters,so that multiple lines of codes are consider as a  single line by interpreter.

Escape  Sequences are basically used for designing purposes. They can be used between the statements. An escape sequence contains  more than one character but functions as a single character because there is no letter to textually represent escaped character.

How to use Escape Sequences?

The following is the list of some Escape sequences with the examples:

• \n 

       It is used to change the line. You can use it anywhere in the middle of statement.

eg. >>> print("I am here .\n You must come here"

      Output: I am here.

              You must come here                     

• \t

       It is used to give a tab(seven spaces) in between two words in a single line.

eg. >>> print("I am here .\tYou must come here")

      Output: I am here.        You must come here 

                                        

• \\

       It is used to print a backslash(\) or to ignore some escape  sequence.

eg. >>> print("\\")

      Output:  \

eg. >>> print("\\t got ignored")

      Output:  \t got ignored

eg. >>> print("C:\Users\name\AppData\Local\\testfile")

      Output:  C:\Users\name\AppData\Local\testfile

• \b                                  

            It is used to remove a character that is written previous to \b.

eg. >>> print("Removing a characters\b.")

      Output:  Removing a character.

• \f                        

  Special character.

 eg. >>>print("Hello World\f")

         Output: Hello World

• \'

        Prints a single quote '

eg. >>>print(" \' ")

         Output: '

We have seen some important escape sequences that we will be using.Some of the other escape sequences, we will be seeing in our next tutorials.