Can Special Characters Be Used in MySQL Table Names and How to Deal with Them?

Dealing with Special Characters in MySQL Table Names

When creating MySQL tables, it's generally not recommended to use special characters in the table name. However, there are certain scenarios where it may be necessary. This question explores the issue of special characters in table names, specifically focusing on the exclamation mark (!).

Escaping Special Characters

The question attempts to insert data into a table named 'e!' using a query that includes the exclamation mark. However, the query fails due to the special character being treated as a syntax error. To resolve this, the user attempts to escape the exclamation mark, but the query still fails.

Using Back Ticks

The solution lies in using back ticks to enclose the table name, like so:

<code class="sql">INSERT INTO `e!` ...</code>

By enclosing the table name in back ticks, you indicate to MySQL that the table name is a string and not a special character. This allows you to use special characters in your table name without triggering syntax errors.

Best Practices

While it's technically possible to use special characters in table names using back ticks, it's not considered a best practice. Special characters can lead to confusion and potential compatibility issues down the road.

To avoid unnecessary problems, it's advisable to follow the naming conventions and avoid using special characters in MySQL table names altogether.

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