The backtick ` sits at the top left of most keyboards, sharing a key with the tilde. Its Unicode name is Grave Accent, but almost nobody uses it as an accent now. Markdown uses it to mark inline code, three of them open a code block, and JavaScript uses it for template literals.
01 All shortcuts at a glance
| Platform | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard US keyboard | Press ` key (top-left, no shift) directly, it's a printable key, no code needed |
|
| Windows (any app) | Win+. or Win+; emoji/symbol picker, or Character Map (Win+R → charmap) |
|
| Mac | Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer, search "Grave Accent" |
|
| Word / Outlook | Type 0060, then press Alt+X |
|
| Linux (IBus) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 0060, then Enter |
|
| HTML / CSS | ` · \0060 (CSS) |
02 Step by step, per platform
A real, followable procedure for every platform, not a thin restatement of the shortcut.
Any device (US keyboard)
- Press ` key (top-left, no shift), it's printed on the keycap.
- On other layouts (AZERTY, QWERTZ) the key may be in a different position or need a modifier, use the picker methods below if you can't find it.
Windows
- Open Character Map: Win+R, type charmap, press Enter.
- Search or scroll for Grave Accent (U+0060).
- Select it, click Copy, then paste where you need it.
Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type "Grave Accent" in the search field.
- Double-click the result to insert it.
Microsoft Word
- Type 0060.
- Press Alt+X immediately after, it converts the hex code to `.
03 Characters in this set
04 Troubleshooting & confusables
| Looks like it | But it's actually | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ´ (U+00B4) | Acute accent, leaning the other way | It leans forward. The backtick leans back. Neither belongs in code except as itself. |
| ‘ (U+2018) | Left single quotation mark | A curly quote inserted by autocorrect. It will break a shell command or a code fence. |
| Nothing appears when pressed | A dead key waiting for a vowel | On many layouts it composes an accent. Press it then the spacebar to get the bare character. |
05 FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for the backtick?
It is U+0060, decimal 96. Unicode calls it Grave Accent, because it began as the spacing form of that accent.
Why does pressing the key do nothing?
On many European layouts it is a dead key, so it waits for the next keystroke to combine with. Press it and then the spacebar to get a plain backtick.
What is the difference between a backtick and an apostrophe?
The backtick leans left and lives at U+0060. The apostrophe is straight, at U+0027. They look similar in some monospace fonts but are entirely different characters, and code will not accept one for the other.
What do backticks do in Markdown?
One pair marks inline code. Three in a row on their own line open and close a code block, and you can name the language after the opening three for syntax highlighting.
What do backticks do in a shell?
In Bash and similar shells, text between backticks is executed and replaced by its output. The modern form is $(command), which nests more predictably and is easier to read.