What is the Purpose of a Backslash at the End of a Line in Python?

Understanding the Purpose of a Backslash at the End of a Line in Python

In Python, a backslash () at the end of a line is commonly used to avoid line breaks, particularly when a statement spans multiple lines.

Consider the following Python module import:

from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import declarative_base,\
      AbstractConcreteBase

The backslash at the end of the first line allows you to break the long import statement into two lines, making it more readable and maintainable. This is equivalent to the following import:

from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import declarative_base, AbstractConcreteBase

Alternatively, you can enclose the import statement in parentheses, which also allows for line breaks without using a backslash:

from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import (declarative_base,
      AbstractConcreteBase)

It's important to note that using a backslash or parentheses to escape newlines is strictly for aesthetics and does not affect the functionality of the code. However, it serves as a visual cue to indicate that the line continues on the next line.

Avoid using a backslash to simply break a long line without combining statements, as this will result in a syntax error:

from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import declarative_base,
      AbstractConcreteBase

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