HTML Entity for Backslash (\)

Beginner
5 min read
Updated: Sep 2026
1 example
Unicode U+005C
HTML Entity for backslash (reverse solidus) tutorial illustration
Definition

What Is the Backslash Entity?

Backslash (\) is Unicode U+005C (reverse solidus) in the Basic Latin (ASCII) block. It appears in Windows-style paths, escape sequences, regex, and code documentation. HTML provides the named entity \.

Remember
Character     \
Unicode       U+005C
Hex entity    \
Decimal       \
Named entity  \
CSS escape    \5C
Not the same  / (U+002F solidus)

All of these produce the same glyph: \. Prefer a typed \ in ordinary HTML; use \ / numeric forms when you want an explicit escape; use CSS for generated content.

Reference

Quick Reference

One table for every form you will actually use.

FormCodeWhere it goes
Direct character\HTML text (UTF-8) — fine in normal text
Named entity\HTML markup (preferred name)
Hex entity\HTML markup
Decimal entity\HTML markup
CSS escape\5CStylesheet content

When to Use Which

SituationUse
Show a backslash in docs / pathsType \ or \
Web URL / folder separator/ (U+002F) — not backslash
Need an entity in HTML source\, \, or \
Generated text via ::before / ::aftercontent: "\5C"
At sign / other ASCII punctuation@ / &
See it

Live Preview

Backslash in everyday documentation contexts.

Path-style C:\Users\Student
Large glyph \
vs. slash \  vs.  /
Escape cue word1\word2
With entities Named: \ | Hex: \ | Decimal: \
Code

Complete HTML Example

One page that shows \ with hex, decimal, named entity, CSS escape, and a typed character. Use View Output or open the live editor.

Hex + Decimal + Named + CSS + Typed

Five ways to produce \ in a single document.

html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Backslash (\) in HTML</title>
  <style>
    #point::after {
      content: "\5C";
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <p>Backslash using Hex Code: &#x5C;</p>
  <p>Backslash using HTML Code: &#92;</p>
  <p>Backslash using Named Entity: &bsol;</p>
  <p id="point">Backslash using CSS Entity: </p>
  <p>Typed directly: \</p>
</body>
</html>
Try It Yourself

How It Works

1. Hex: U+005C → &#x5C; in HTML. The browser turns it into \.

2. Decimal: same code point as 92 → &#92;. Same result as hex.

3. Named: &bsol; is the standard HTML name for reverse solidus — clear in tutorials.

4. CSS: use \5C in content (not an HTML entity). In CSS, \ starts an escape, so \5C is the safe way to emit U+005C.

5. Typed \: fine in UTF-8 HTML text. All five lines show the same glyph.

Pitfalls & Tips

Common mistakes when working with the backslash (\).

/

Not a forward slash

Web paths and URLs use / (U+002F). Backslash is a different character.

CSS

Escape carefully in CSS

In CSS, \ starts an escape. Prefer content: "\5C" for a literal backslash.

Prefer

Type \ when you can

In normal HTML text a literal \ is fine. Use &bsol; when you want an explicit entity.

CSS vs HTML

Do not mix escapes

\5C belongs in CSS. &bsol; / &#x5C; belong in HTML.

JS

Different in JavaScript strings

In JS source, \\ is often needed for one backslash. That is language syntax — not an HTML entity.

Semicolon

End references

Always finish with ; — write &bsol;, not &bsol.

Compatibility

Browser Support

Backslash (U+005C) and its entity forms (&bsol;, &#x5C;, &#92;, CSS \\5C) are supported in all mainstream browsers. It is a core ASCII character.

✓ Universal support

Backslash (\)

Type \, or encode with named, hex, decimal, or CSS escape — same glyph everywhere encoding is supported.

100% Browser coverage
Google Chrome Supported
Yes
Microsoft Edge Supported
Yes
Mozilla Firefox Supported
Yes
Apple Safari Supported
Yes
Opera Supported
Yes
Internet Explorer All versions
Yes
U+005C / entities Full support

Bottom line: Prefer a typed \ or &bsol; for normal text. Use numeric forms when generating markup, and \\5C only inside CSS content.

Remember

Key Takeaways

  • Unicode: backslash is U+005C (decimal 92).
  • HTML: prefer &bsol; (or &#x5C; / &#92; / typed \).
  • CSS: use \5C inside content (backslash is an escape starter).
  • Watch out: \ ≠ / (forward slash).

One line: U+005C → &bsol; / &#x5C; / &#92; / CSS \5C.

Frequently Asked Questions

Use &#x5C; (hex), &#92; (decimal), &bsol; (named), a literal \ in UTF-8, or the CSS escape \5C in the content property. All render a backslash.
U+005C (hex 5C, decimal 92). Unicode names it REVERSE SOLIDUS. It belongs to the Basic Latin (ASCII) block.
Yes. &bsol; maps to U+005C. Prefer it in tutorials; a typed \ is fine in ordinary HTML text.
\ is reverse solidus (U+005C). / is solidus / forward slash (U+002F). They are different characters — paths and URLs usually use / on the web.
HTML entities (&#92;, &#x5C;, or &bsol;) go in markup. The CSS escape \5C is used in stylesheets (usually in the content property of ::before/::after). Both render a backslash.
In CSS, \ starts an escape. To emit a literal backslash via content, use \5C (or an equivalent CSS escape) — do not paste a lone \ without a valid escape form.

Did you know?

Backslash is Unicode U+005C (decimal 92) in Basic Latin — official name REVERSE SOLIDUS. HTML’s named reference is &bsol;. A typed \ is fine in UTF-8 HTML; use entities when you want an explicit escape in docs or generated markup.

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About the author

Mari Selvan M P
Mari Selvan M P 🔗

Developer, cloud engineer, and technical writer

  • Experience 12 years building web and cloud systems
  • Focus Full Stack Development, AWS, and Developer Education

I write practical tutorials so students and working developers can learn by doing—from databases and APIs to deployment on AWS.

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