Grave accent

ASCII Code: 96•Category: symbols

The grave accent (`) functions as a diacritical mark in linguistics, a template literal delimiter in modern programming, and inline code formatting in markdown, bridging traditional typography with contemporary digital communication.

Technical Details

ASCII Code: 96
HTML Entity: `
Hexadecimal: 0x60
Binary: 01100000
Octal: 140

Usage & Examples

Programming

char symbol = '`'; // ASCII 96

HTML/Web

` or `

Common Uses

gravebacktickaccentdiacriticprogrammingtemplatemarkdowncommand

How to Type This Character

Windows

Alt Code:

Hold Alt and type96 on numeric keypad

Character Map:

Search "Character Map" in Start menu

Mac

Character Viewer:

Press Ctrl +Cmd +Space

Copy & Paste:

Easiest method - copy from this page!

💡 Pro tip: The fastest way is to bookmark this page or copy the character from our ASCII library!

Related Characters

About the Grave accent

Template Literals

Essential for template strings in JavaScript and other modern programming languages, enabling string interpolation and multi-line text formatting. Revolutionized web development by allowing dynamic content generation and complex string manipulation.

Markdown Formatting

Standard notation for inline code formatting in markdown, documentation systems, and technical writing platforms like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and technical blogs. Distinguishes code from regular text in digital documentation.

Diacritical Heritage

Traditional diacritical mark indicating falling tone or stress in various languages, though less common than acute accents. Important for historical linguistics and authentic representation of certain language systems.

Command Substitution

Used in Unix/Linux shell scripting for command substitution and execution, enabling complex system administration and automation tasks. Critical for DevOps, system administration, and command-line operations.

History of the Grave accent

Ancient Times

Greek Accent System

Ancient Greek grammarians developed the grave accent to indicate pitch and stress patterns in spoken Greek, establishing foundational concepts for Western diacritical notation.

Medieval Period

Latin Manuscript Usage

Medieval scribes occasionally used grave accents in Latin texts for pronunciation guidance, though less systematically than other Romance languages developed later.

1970s

Unix Command Substitution

Unix shell systems adopted backticks for command substitution, enabling complex scripting and system administration that became fundamental to modern computing infrastructure.

2004

Markdown Creation

John Gruber's markdown syntax used backticks for inline code formatting, establishing conventions that became standard across documentation platforms and technical writing.

2015

JavaScript Template Literals

ES6 JavaScript introduced template literals with backtick delimiters, revolutionizing string handling in web development and modern JavaScript applications.

Cultural Impact

The grave accent evolved from ancient pronunciation guidance to become a cornerstone of modern programming and technical documentation, enabling both system administration and developer communication.

Usage Examples

Template Literals

Example

`Hello ${name}!`, `Multi-line string content`, `Result: ${x + y}`

JavaScript template strings with variable interpolation

Markdown Code

Example

Use `console.log()` to debug. The `Array.map()` function is useful.

Inline code formatting in documentation and technical writing

Shell Commands

Example

result=`date`, files=`ls -la`, echo `whoami`

Command substitution in Unix/Linux shell scripting

Diacritical Usage

Example

à (French), là (there), voilà (there it is)

French words using grave accent for pronunciation marking