How is this different from a regular string escape tool?

Most escape tools let you pick one target language at a time. This converter shows all 12 languages simultaneously so you can copy the right format without switching modes. If you need to embed the same string in a Python script, a JSON payload, and a Java constant, you see all three outputs at once.

What escape rules does each language follow?

JSON and JS escape \n \t \r \\ \" and control chars as \uXXXX. Java additionally escapes every non-ASCII character as \uXXXX (for javac source compatibility). Kotlin does the same as Java but also escapes $ to prevent string-template interpolation. Python, Go, C#, and Ruby escape control chars with their named sequences (\a \v \0 etc). PHP escapes $ and \e. Rust uses \u{XXXX} for non-ASCII control chars. C/C++ uses \xHH hex escapes for non-printable bytes. Swift uses \u{XXXX} for code points outside the printable ASCII range.

Can I decode an escaped string back to its original text?

Yes. Switch to "Unescape" mode and paste any backslash-escaped string. The parser handles \n \t \r \\ \" \' \0 \a \b \f \v \e \uXXXX \u{XXXX} and \xHH — covering every format produced in Escape mode. Mixed formats (e.g. a string with both \uXXXX and \xHH) are parsed in one pass.

Why does Java escape non-ASCII characters but Python doesn't?

Python 3 source files are UTF-8 by default, so you can embed Chinese, emoji, or accented letters directly into string literals without escaping. Java source can be any encoding and compilers may mangle non-ASCII bytes if the file encoding is misdetected, so \uXXXX is the safe portable form. Kotlin inherits Java's escape rules for the same JVM reason, adding $ escaping for its string templates.

Does this tool send my strings to a server?

No. All escape and unescape logic runs entirely in your browser. Your strings are never uploaded, logged, or shared. The input text is optionally written into the page URL (for the shareable-link feature), so avoid pasting secrets or tokens if you plan to share the link.

What counts as a "control character" that needs escaping?

Control characters are Unicode code points below U+0020 (space) — things like U+0000 (null), U+0001–U+001F (device control codes), and U+007F (delete). They are invisible, can break parsers, and must be written as escape sequences in almost every string literal format. This tool escapes all of them using the shortest unambiguous sequence for each target language.

Embedding user input in a multi-language backend

You have a username like O'Brien\nAdmin that needs to go into a Python config file, a Java log message, and a JSON API response body. Paste it once and the converter shows the safe form for all three environments simultaneously — no need to open three tabs or remember each language's escaping rules.

Writing test fixtures for multiple runtimes

Your QA suite runs the same assertion across a Go service, a Rust binary, and a Kotlin Android app. You have a payload string with newlines and quotes. Paste it here, grab the Go, Rust, and Kotlin outputs, and drop them into your three test files in one go.

String Escape Converter — 12 Languages at Once

Paste once — see escaped strings for JSON, Python, Go, C#, Rust, Java, C, Ruby, PHP, Swift, Kotlin & JS side by side

Runs locally
Category Encoding & Crypto
Best for Checking small payloads, tokens, hashes, and encoded values quickly.

Input

Enter text above to see escaped output for all 12 languages.

What this tool does

Free online string escape converter for 12 programming languages at once. Paste raw text and instantly see the correctly escaped string literal for JSON, JavaScript, Python, Go, C#, Rust, Java, C/C++, Ruby, PHP, Swift, and Kotlin — all side by side so you can copy exactly the format you need.

Unlike single-language tools, this converter shows every language simultaneously. Stop switching tabs to re-escape the same string for a different runtime. Each output follows the real escape rules of that language — Java escapes non-ASCII as \uXXXX, PHP escapes $ for variable safety, Ruby escapes # to prevent interpolation, Rust uses \u{XXXX}.

Flip to Unescape mode to decode an escaped literal back to readable text. The shared backslash parser handles \n \t \r \uXXXX \xHH and all common escape sequences. Everything runs 100% in your browser — your strings never leave the page.

Tool details

Input: Text + Numbers; The page exposes text boxes, numeric controls, file pickers, or structured inputs depending on the tool.
Output: Live result + Copy; The result area focuses on usable output, with copy, download, or preview actions when supported.
Privacy: Browser-side processing; The main tool logic does not call an external API, so inputs normally stay in the current tab.
Save / share: Shareable URL state; Key settings are encoded in the URL so another person can reopen the same setup.
Performance budget: Initial JS <= 20 KB; No WASM budget is declared, keeping the tool quick to open on mobile.
Best fit: Encoding & Crypto · Developer; Category and role tags drive related tools, internal links, and quick fit checks.

How to use

1. Input

Paste or drop your content into the tool panel.
2. Process

Click the button. All processing is local in your browser.
3. Copy / Download

Copy the result or download to disk in one click.

How String Escape Converter fits into your work

Use it for quick browser-side encoding, decoding, hashing, token checks, and share-safe transformations.

Encoding jobs

Checking small payloads, tokens, hashes, and encoded values quickly.
Preparing values for APIs, URLs, docs, or support tickets.
Avoiding account-based tools when the input might be sensitive.

Encoding checks

Do not paste live secrets unless you are comfortable with local browser handling.
Confirm whether the operation is reversible before sharing the result.
For hashes, compare the exact algorithm and casing expected by the receiver.

Good next steps

These links move the current task into a more complete workflow.

Real-world use cases

Embedding user input in a multi-language backend
You have a username like O'Brien\nAdmin that needs to go into a Python config file, a Java log message, and a JSON API response body. Paste it once and the converter shows the safe form for all three environments simultaneously — no need to open three tabs or remember each language's escaping rules.
Writing test fixtures for multiple runtimes
Your QA suite runs the same assertion across a Go service, a Rust binary, and a Kotlin Android app. You have a payload string with newlines and quotes. Paste it here, grab the Go, Rust, and Kotlin outputs, and drop them into your three test files in one go.

Common pitfalls

Applying JSON escaping to a Java string literal and then wondering why javac complains about a Chinese character — Java needs \uXXXX for every non-ASCII code point; JSON does not. Use the Java row, not the JSON row.
Pasting a Python raw-string prefix (r"…") into the unescape input — raw strings are not backslash-escaped, so the parser will produce garbage. Remove the r prefix before pasting.
Forgetting to escape $ in PHP and Kotlin double-quoted strings — a bare $ followed by a letter triggers variable/template interpolation and silently inserts the wrong value. The converter handles this automatically; check the PHP/Kotlin rows even when the JSON row looks fine.

Privacy

Everything runs locally in your browser. Your strings are never sent to any server. The input text is optionally written into the page URL for shareable links — avoid pasting tokens, API keys, or confidential data if you enable sharing.

FAQ

Tool combos

Folks in your role tend to reach for these alongside this tool.

Developer

Browse all tools for this role

String Escape Converter — 12 Languages at Once

What this tool does

Tool details

How to use

1. Input

2. Process

3. Copy / Download

How String Escape Converter fits into your work

Encoding jobs

Encoding checks

Good next steps

Real-world use cases

Embedding user input in a multi-language backend

Writing test fixtures for multiple runtimes

Common pitfalls

Privacy

FAQ

String Escape / Unescape

URL Encoder / Decoder

HTML Entities Encoder

Unicode Escape Converter

JSON Formatter & Validator

Regex Escape

AES Text Encryptor

Affine Cipher Encoder & Decoder

Atbash Cipher

Bacon Cipher Encoder & Decoder

Base32 / Base58 Encoder & Decoder

Base62 Encoder & Decoder