Escape character in C

Question

So I want to check if someone enters: \n ('\' and then 'n') from the keyboard to a string, so I'm doing something like this:

if ( ((str[i] == '\') && (str[i+1] == 'n')) ) {
    //...
}

However this doesn't work because it recognizes \ as an escape character and the whole thing breaks.

Any better way to do this ?

Public service announcement: We don't need 20 (similar) answers on a simple question like this. — HamZa, Dec 18 '14 at 10:04
@HamZa: especially when (.. counting) exactly *half* seem to focus on precisely the wrong thing. — Jongware, Dec 18 '14 at 10:09
@Xaloni if this doesn't work, you may comment the answer that gave you this and maybe edit your question to explain *why* it doesn't work (what does it do and why this is not what you want). — Dettorer, Dec 18 '14 at 10:14
possible duplicate of [How do i print escape characters as characters?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6684976/how-do-i-print-escape-characters-as-characters) — jww, Dec 22 '14 at 07:55

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 18 '14 at 10:03

5

You have to escape \ by doubling it:

if ( ((str[i] == '\\') && (str[i+1] == 'n')) ){
}

answered Dec 18 '14 at 10:03

daouzli

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 18 '14 at 10:03

2

The escape sequence for an actual backslash is \\, e.g.

char c = getchar();
if(c == '\\')
    ... stuff ...

answered Dec 18 '14 at 10:03

slugonamission

sharon · Answer 3 · 2014-12-18T10:09:11.730

1

compare the \ like this. if ((str[i] == '\\') && (str[i+1] == 'n'))

because we have to escape the escape sequence \.

edited Dec 18 '14 at 10:09

answered Dec 18 '14 at 10:03

sharon

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 18 '14 at 10:24

0

Instead of escape characters you can use the ASCII values like this

  if ((str[i] == 92) && (str[i+1] == 'n'))
        ;

answered Dec 18 '14 at 10:24

Bhuvanesh

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Dec 18 '14 at 10:31

0

you use another \

    if ( str[i] == '\\' && str[i+1] == 'n');

answered Dec 18 '14 at 10:31

Rajalakshmi

This *answer* would be SO MUCH better if you added a sentence explaining escape cnd reserved characters. – Dec 18 '14 at 11:56
That would be the second one trying to explain rather than just saying "You have to.", Himanshu's answer added a quick explanation but got downvoted for some reason. – Dettorer Dec 18 '14 at 12:01

Himanshu · Answer 6 · 2014-12-18T10:44:02.077

-1

if user enter like \ and n using keyboard .

then try like this

 if(str[i] == '\\' && str[i+1] == 'n')

As \ is represented by \\, so use \\ instead of \ to check.

edited Dec 18 '14 at 10:44

answered Dec 18 '14 at 10:07

Himanshu

6 Answers6