C++ Escape Sequences

Escape sequences are a special way to write characters that can't be typed directly. It starts with a backslash (\) followed by a letter or symbol. They are used inside strings or characters to control formatting or show special symbols.

Escape Sequences in C++

The following table lists the commonly used escape characters in C++:

Note: The output of some of these escape sequences depends upon the compiler you are working on.

The Octal 3-Digit Rule

In C++, an octal escape sequence (\) will consume a maximum of three digits ($0-7$). This means \0 is not a special standalone command, it is the start of an octal sequence.

• If you write "\012", the compiler does not see a Null character followed by "12". It sees Octal 012, which is a Newline character.
• To fix it, separate a null character from following numbers, use string concatenation: "\0" "12".

Examples of Escape Characters in C++

The following examples demonstrates the use of above escape sequences in C++:

Example 1: Program to demonstrate how to use \a escape sequence in C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // Generates a bell sound
    cout << "My mobile number is "
            "7\a8\a7\a3\a9\a2\a3\a4\a0\a8\a";
    return 0;
}

Output

My mobile number is 7873923408

Example 2: Program to demonstrate how to use \b escape sequence in C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // Moves the cursor one place backward
    cout << "Hello \b\b\b\b\b\bHi Geeks";
    return 0;
}

Output

HHi Geeks

Behavior of \b with/without endl:

Note: \b only moves the cursor back without endl some terminals partially repaint the line (so leftover characters may be hidden), while with endl the output is flushed and fully repainted, making the remaining characters visible.

Example 3: Program to demonstrate how to use \n escape sequence in C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // Moves the cursor to the start of the next line
    cout << "Hello\n";
    cout << "GeeksforGeeks";
    return 0;
}

Hello
GeeksforGeeks

Example 4: Program to demonstrate how to use \t escape sequence in C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // Inserts a horizontal tab space
    cout << "Hello \t GFG";
    return 0;
}

Hello      GFG

Example 5: Program to demonstrate how to use \v escape sequence in C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // Inserts a vertical tab space
    cout << "Hello friends\v";
    cout << "Welcome to GFG";
    return 0;
}

Output

Hello friends
                       Welcome to GFG

Example 6: Program to demonstrate how to use \r escape sequence in C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // Moves the cursor to the start of the current line
    cout << "Hello   Geeks \rGeeksfor";
    return 0;
}

Output

GeeksforGeeks

Example 7: Program to demonstrate how to use \\ escape sequence in C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // Inserts a backslash character
    cout << "Hello\\GFG";
    return 0;
}

Hello\GFG

Example 8: Program to demonstrate how to use \' and \" escape sequences in C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // Displays a single quotation mark
    cout << "\' Hello Geeks\n";
    // Displays double quotation marks
    cout << "\" Hello Geeks";
    return 0;
}

' Hello Geeks
" Hello Geeks

Example 9: Program to demonstrate how to use \? escape sequence in C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // Displays a question mark
    cout << "\?\?!\n";
    return 0;
}

??!

Example 10: Program to demonstrate how to use \ooo escape sequence in C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // Represents an octal number
    char* s = "A\072\065";
    cout << s;
    return 0;
}

A:5

Example 11: Program to demonstrate how to use \xhh escape sequence in C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {

    const char* s = "\x42" "J"; // Hex 42 is 'B'
    
    cout << "Result: " << s << endl;
    return 0;
}