What Is a Backtick?
The backtick (`) is a typographical character primarily used in computer programming and command-line interfaces. Located on most keyboards alongside the tilde (~) symbol, the backtick serves distinct functions across various programming languages and environments, from enabling template literals in JavaScript to facilitating command substitution in Unix-based systems.
Recent developments, statistics, and facts
The JavaScript Ecosystem in 2025
JavaScript’s dominance in web development continues unabated. Nearly 98.8% of websites now rely on JavaScript [1], making template literals—and by extension, backticks—an essential part of modern web infrastructure. Template literals consistently rank among developers’ most beloved JavaScript features [2], demonstrating their practical value in everyday coding.
JavaScript currently holds the sixth position in the TIOBE Index [3], though this represents a decline from third place the previous year [4]. Despite this shift, the language remains a cornerstone of computer science education and bootcamp curricula [5], ensuring continued adoption among new developers entering the field.
Evolution of Shell Scripting Standards
The shell scripting community has moved decisively toward modern conventions. Contemporary best practices now strongly favor the $() syntax over backticks for command substitution, citing improved readability and better handling of nested commands [6]. Major style guides now recommend keeping scripts under 50 lines and employing static analysis tools like ShellCheck [7] to catch common errors before they reach production.
Performance considerations have become increasingly important. Recent developer surveys indicate that optimized shell scripts can reduce execution time by up to 50% in large-scale automation environments [8], making efficient syntax choices more than just a matter of style.
MySQL and Database Management
Database developers have refined their approach to identifier handling. Current best practices emphasize avoiding double quotes in MySQL queries to ensure code remains independent of SQL mode configurations [9], while backticks remain the accepted standard for delimiting identifiers when necessary.
MySQL’s reserved word list receives regular updates, and while backticks allow reserved words to function as identifiers, experienced developers recommend choosing names that avoid conflicts entirely [10] to maintain code clarity.
Markdown’s Continued Growth
Markdown has solidified its position in technical documentation. Modern markdown editors now standardize features like live preview, syntax highlighting for backtick-delimited code blocks, and real-time collaboration [11]. The triple-backtick syntax for code blocks has become ubiquitous, with most implementations supporting language-specific syntax highlighting [12].
This widespread adoption reflects broader documentation trends favoring lightweight, readable markup over complex formatting systems.
Key Takeaways
- Backticks enable template literals in JavaScript, allowing for embedded expressions and multi-line strings without escape characters.
- In shell scripting environments, backticks perform command substitution, executing commands within other commands.
- SQL databases use backticks to identify table and column names, particularly when using reserved keywords.
- Markdown formatting employs backticks to denote inline code and create formatted code blocks in documentation.
Understanding Backticks
The backtick character functions differently depending on the programming language or environment in which it appears. This versatility makes it an essential tool for developers working across multiple platforms and languages.
JavaScript Implementation
In JavaScript, backticks define template literals, a feature introduced in ECMAScript 2015 (ES6). Template literals provide several advantages over traditional string notation:
let name = "John";
let age = 30;
let introduction = `My name is ${name} and I am ${age} years old.`;This syntax allows for direct variable interpolation using ${} notation, eliminating the need for string concatenation with plus operators. Template literals also support multi-line strings natively, improving code readability.
Shell Scripting Applications
In Unix-based shell environments, backticks facilitate command substitution, allowing the output of one command to serve as input for another:
echo Today is `date`While backtick syntax remains supported for backward compatibility, modern shell scripting generally favors the $() syntax, which offers improved readability and easier nesting capabilities.
Database Management
SQL database systems, including MySQL, utilize backticks to escape identifiers such as table and column names. This proves particularly useful when working with reserved keywords or special characters:
CREATE TABLE `Users` (
`id` int(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
`username` varchar(45) NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
);Documentation and Markdown
Markdown syntax employs backticks for code formatting. Single backticks denote inline code elements, while triple backticks create multi-line code blocks with optional syntax highlighting:
```javascript
function example() {
return true;
}
```Backticks vs. Traditional Quotation Marks
In JavaScript, backticks differ significantly from single (') and double (") quotation marks. While traditional quotes create simple string primitives, backticks generate template literal objects with enhanced functionality, including expression embedding and native multi-line support.
Special Considerations
When implementing backticks across different programming environments, developers should note:
- Language-specific behavior: The function of backticks varies substantially between programming languages. Python 2.x used backticks as shorthand for the
repr()function, though this syntax was removed in Python 3. - Deprecation trends: Some uses of backticks have been deprecated in favor of more readable alternatives, such as
$()in shell scripting. - Context dependency: The meaning of a backtick is entirely dependent on its programming context and cannot be universally applied across all languages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do backticks differ from other quotation marks in JavaScript?
Backticks create template literals with advanced features including expression interpolation and multi-line strings, while single and double quotes create standard string primitives with limited functionality.
Are backticks used in languages other than JavaScript?
Yes, though their functionality varies. Bash uses backticks for command substitution, SQL databases use them for identifier escaping, and Python 2.x previously used them for object representation (now deprecated).
How do you create multi-line strings using backticks?
Multi-line strings in template literals require no special syntax—simply press Enter to create a new line within the backtick delimiters:
`This is a
multi-line
string`Can expressions be embedded within backtick strings?
Yes, template literals support expression embedding using ${expression} syntax, which evaluates the expression and converts the result to a string within the template literal.
References
[1] BigOh Tech. “Top 34 JavaScript Stats You Must Know in 2025 to Level Up Your Business.” https://bigohtech.com/top-javascript-statistics
[2] Twisted Brackets. “The State of JavaScript 2024 Thoughts.” January 18, 2025. https://www.twistedbrackets.com/the-state-of-javascript-2024-thoughts/
[3] Index.dev. “20 Most Popular Programming Languages in 2025 (Worldwide Ranking).” https://www.index.dev/blog/most-popular-programming-languages-
[4] IEEE Spectrum. “AI Is Redefining the Concept of a Programming Language’s Popularity.” October 2025. https://spectrum.ieee.org/top-programming-languages-2025
[5] Lemon.io. “Top Programming Languages to Learn in 2025: What the Data Says.” August 6, 2025. https://lemon.io/blog/most-popular-programming-languages/
[6] TecAdmin. “Command Substitution with $() in Bash: A Comprehensive Guide.” April 26, 2025. https://tecadmin.net/bash-command-substitution/ | Bertvv. “Bash best practices.” https://bertvv.github.io/cheat-sheets/Bash.html
[7] Medium. “Best practices we need to follow in Bash scripting in 2025…” May 3, 2025. https://medium.com/@prasanna.a1.usage/best-practices-we-need-to-follow-in-bash-scripting-in-2025-cebcdf254768
[8] MoldStud. “Understanding Process Substitution in Bash for Developers.” May 12, 2025. https://moldstud.com/articles/p-process-substitution-in-bash-essential-insights-for-developers
[9] Baeldung. “When to Use Single Quotes, Double Quotes, and Backticks in MySQL.” September 3, 2025. https://www.baeldung.com/sql/mysql-single-double-quotes-backticks
[10] DB Tech. “MySQL Reserved Words: List, Error Avoidance & Best Practices.” September 16, 2025. https://www.dbtech.digibeatrix.com/en/mysql/advanced-misc/mysql-reserved-words-list/
[11] Wondershare EdrawMind. “Markdown Editors: Top 10 Picks for 2025.” https://edrawmind.wondershare.com/productivity-management/10-markdown-editors-windows.html | Swimm. “Markdown Editors: Key Features and 8 Tools to Know in 2025.” https://swimm.io/learn/code-documentation/markdown-editors-key-features-and-8-tools-to-know-in-2025
[12] freeCodeCamp. “How to Format Code in Markdown.” February 1, 2020. https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/how-to-format-code-in-markdown/
