what is the difference between one backslash (\) and double backslashes (\\) when defining a path?

Dear All I am trying to understand a code written by an alumni. I found that for defining a data directory which is located on a server (not on the computer) the double backslashes was used in the beginning of the path definition. Something like DIR = '\\zserver\data'. I am wondering why \\ is used. I'd appreciate your comments. Bests MA

Answer 1

[Mohammad Abouali]

that's how on windows machine the server is defined.

\\servername\shared_resource\subfolder_on_that\sub_sub_folder_in_that\and_so_on\myfile.something

so that way, the system knows that the name immediately after \\ is referring to the server name.

[Mohammad Abdolrahmani]

Thanks Bro Got the point! MA