Markdown Backslash Escapes
Last updated: 2026-10-14
Backslash Escapes CommonMark core
A backslash renders Markdown specials literally: \* prints an asterisk, \# a hash. Around 21 ASCII punctuation characters are escapable — essential for showing literal symbols.
| Group | Basic: Inline |
|---|---|
| Spec level | CommonMark core |
| Spec version | CommonMark 0.31.2 + GFM |
📝 Syntax
\* shows *
\# shows #▶ Live Example
Edit Markdown on the left, see the result on the right
💡 Key points
ℹ️ Note Only ASCII punctuation is escapable; a backslash before a letter stays literal.
💡 Tip Inside code spans and blocks, backslashes are literal — code is escape-free by design.
❓ FAQ
Q Which characters are escapable?
A The 21 CommonMark ASCII punctuation: backslash, backtick, *, _, braces, brackets, parens, #, +, -, ., !, |.
Q What about escaping letters or CJK?
A The backslash stays visible — only punctuation is on the escape list.
Q Escapes vs HTML entities?
A Escapes stop Markdown parsing; entities replace characters at the HTML level.
📚 See also
Inline CodeCommonMark core HTML EntitiesCommonMark core