Writing '\n' to a file using Node.js

Question

I need to write the string \n (not a new line, but the literal string) to a file. Any ideas how to do this?

What's the problem? You don't know how to write to a file, or you don't know how to get a literal backslash + n? — cookie monster
– cookie monster, Commented Jan 9, 2014 at 22:22
Sorry, my mistake. I know how to write a file, but not write \n to said file. — user2036108
– user2036108, Commented Jan 9, 2014 at 22:23
Like this: "\\n". The escape sequence for a literal backslash is two backslashes. — cookie monster
– cookie monster, Commented Jan 9, 2014 at 22:24

SK. · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-09 22:40:01Z

3

Escape characters in javascript and node.js is \ backslash.

Therefore put one extra \ backslash before your string \n

String: \\n

Output: \n

answered Jan 9, 2014 at 22:40

SK.

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bmeier · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-09 22:27:30Z

1

Assuming you are asking about how to escape the '\n' so it doesn't get interpreted as a newline, that's just doubling the \ character: '\\n'. How to write to a file is a different question.

answered Jan 9, 2014 at 22:27

bmeier

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ccalvert · Accepted Answer · 2022-05-12 16:37:28Z

0

As others have mentioned, you need to escape the backslash (\). You can do it like this:

const literalNewline = `This is a newline character: \\n`;
fs.writeFileSync('newline.txt', literalNewline);

Without the escaped backslash I get this:

This is a newline character:

When I escape the character I get the result I'm looking for:

This is a newline character: \n

answered May 12, 2022 at 16:37

ccalvert

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