如何在字符串中使用 \\？

Question

I am trying to create a directory in my Python code but I can't use backslash \\ in a string. Every time I do it gives me an unexpected token error.

I would like my code to look something like this:

dir = os.getcwd() + "\FolderIWantToCreate"

If I use / (forward slash), it gives me an error because my directory paths use backslash. However if I type \\ (backslash) anywhere in my code, even inside "" , it doesn't register the backslash as a string, it says unexpected token.

How can I overcome this?

Answer 1

\\ is the escape character in python. If you want to use \\ in a string you have to escape it, ie:

"\\"

For more, see: https://docs.python.org/2.0/ref/strings.html

Answer 2

You have two options:

1. You can either escape the escape character \\ by adding an extra \\ before it, like this: "\\\\FolderIWantToCreate" ,
2. You can use the r prefix before the string to tell python that the string that follows is a raw string , like this: r"\\FolderIWantToCreate"

Answer 3

If you are dealing with paths and look eg for OS intercompatibility, consider using the pathlib package. More info on how to use it when eg creating new folders, see here .

If you really have to use that notation anyways, then an option would be to make it a "raw" string:

s = r'\FolderIWantToCreate'

more on that eg here .

Answer 4

Please use the Escape sequence when ever you are using special characters

dir = os.getcwd() + "\\FolderIWantToCreate"

Reference : 2.4.1 String literals

Answer 5

dir = os.getcwd() + "\\\\FolderIWantToCreate"

Answer 6

Just adding another answer which I think you should know;

Assuming you are on Windows

You can use os.path.join() with os.sep to overcome the issue you are facing.

I do not have a Windows VM with me to give you a concrete example.