> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.internetobject.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.internetobject.org/structure-and-syntax/values/string/raw-strings.md).

# Raw Strings

A **raw string** is a sequence of Unicode code points prefixed with `r` (or `R`) and enclosed in single quotes (`'`, `U+0027`) or double quotes (`"`, `U+0022`). Raw strings suit text with many backslashes, quotes, or structural characters — file paths or regular expressions, for example. They process no escape sequences except the enclosing quote, which is written by doubling it inside the string.

Raw strings are scalar values. They preserve all content as written, including whitespace, newlines, and Unicode characters.

## Syntax

A raw string is prefixed with `r` or `R` and enclosed in single or double quotes. The only special rule is that the enclosing quote, when it appears inside the string, must be written as two consecutive enclosing quotes.

```ebnf
rawString = "r" (singleQuotedRaw | doubleQuotedRaw)
singleQuotedRaw = "'" { character | doubleSingleQuote } "'"
doubleQuotedRaw = '"' { character | doubleDoubleQuote } '"'
character = any Unicode code point except the enclosing quote
doubleSingleQuote = "''" (a single quote inside a single-quoted raw string)
doubleDoubleQuote = '""' (a double quote inside a double-quoted raw string)
```

## Structural characters

| Symbol             | Name                   | Unicode  | Description                                             |
| ------------------ | ---------------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| `r`                | Raw prefix             | `U+0072` | Marks the string as raw                                 |
| `'`                | Single quote           | `U+0027` | Encloses the string; doubled inside to represent itself |
| `"`                | Double quote           | `U+0022` | Encloses the string; doubled inside to represent itself |
| (space, tab, etc.) | Whitespace             | Multiple | Preserved as written                                    |
| Any                | Any Unicode code point | Multiple | Allowed, except an unescaped enclosing quote            |

> **Backslash is literal.** The reverse solidus (`\`, `U+005C`) is always a literal character in a raw string — there is no backslash escaping.

## Valid forms

Examples of valid raw strings:

```ruby
r'C:\program files\example\app.exe'
r"C:\program files\example\app.exe"
r'^(19|20)\d\d([- /.])(0[1-9]|1[012])\2(0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])$'
r"^(19|20)\d\d([- /.])(0[1-9]|1[012])\2(0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])$"
r'जॉन डो'
r"Can contain unicode characters 😃"
r'Jonas D''costa'        # a single quote inside, written as two single quotes
r"He said, ""Hello!"""   # a double quote inside, written as two double quotes
```

## Optional behaviors

* **Whitespace** — leading, trailing, and internal whitespace are preserved.
* **No escaping** — no escape sequences are processed except doubling the enclosing quote.
* **Multiline** — newline and carriage-return characters are preserved.

## Comments

Comments are not allowed inside raw strings, but may appear outside or between values, per the format's comment rules.

## Invalid forms

Examples of invalid raw strings:

```ruby
rC:\program files\app.exe    # ✗ missing quotes (use r'...' or r"...")
r'Jonas D'costa'             # ✗ unescaped single quote inside (use r'Jonas D''costa')
r"He said, "Hello!""         # ✗ unescaped double quote inside (use r"He said, ""Hello!""")
r'Unclosed string            # ✗ missing closing quote
```

## Preservation of structure

Internet Object preserves:

* All Unicode code points and whitespace as written
* The doubled-quote convention for an embedded enclosing quote

It does **not** interpret or enforce:

* Application-specific constraints
* Any escaping beyond doubled enclosing quotes

## See Also

* [Strings](/structure-and-syntax/values/string.md) — the three string forms
* [Open Strings](/structure-and-syntax/values/string/open-strings.md) — the unquoted form
* [Regular Strings](/structure-and-syntax/values/string/regular-strings.md) — quoted strings with escaping


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