Special characters are symbols that aren't letters or numbers. Computer systems often give them specific jobs, which means they can cause problems when they turn up in places like file names or custom fields. This article explains what they are, why they cause issues and how to avoid them.
What are special characters?
Special characters are symbols that aren't letters or numbers. They often have specific functions in computer systems and programming. Examples include:
!(exclamation mark)@(at symbol)#(hash)$(dollar sign)%(percent)^(caret)&(ampersand)*(asterisk)((left bracket))(right bracket)-(hyphen)+(plus)=(equals){}(curly brackets)[](square brackets)\(back slash)/(forward slash):(colon);(semicolon)"(double quote)'(single quote)<(less than)>(greater than)?(question mark)
Why do special characters cause problems?
In systems like Force24, special characters can be reserved for specific functions or commands. If you include them in file names, form values or custom fields, you may see:
- Errors when uploading or downloading files
- Unexpected behaviour in queries or logic
- Failed form submissions or data imports
- Broken code or integrations
- Incorrect reporting or search results
Avoid these in file names
Many operating systems and platforms treat these characters in a special way, so keep them out of your file names: \ / : * ? " < > |
What's the best way to name files and store data?
Where possible, stick to standard letters (A–Z), numbers (0–9), spaces, underscores or hyphens when naming files or storing data in custom fields.
Not sure about a character?
If you're not sure whether a character will cause issues, check with the Force24 support team via live chat before you upload.