0x08

0x08 is the hexadecimal representation of the byte value 8. In ASCII, decimal 8 corresponds to the Backspace control character, often abbreviated BS. In Unicode this same code point is U+0008, also categorized as a control character in the C0 control block. It is a non-printing character and is not intended to produce a visible symbol when text is rendered.

Historically, backspace was used on teletypes and early terminals to move the cursor one position backward. Depending on the device, this could erase the previous character, or simply shift the cursor. In many modern environments, backspace may move the cursor without erasing content unless followed by additional input (for example, a space to overwrite a character, and then another backspace to reposition).

In programming and data formats, 0x08 can appear in plain byte streams or strings. In source code for languages derived from C, the backspace character is commonly written using the escape sequence \b, which corresponds to the same code point. In JSON and other textual formats, the character may be represented directly or via a Unicode escape (e.g., \u0008).

Because 0x08 is a control character, it is rarely used in modern text that is meant to be read by people. Many text-processing pipelines and software tools sanitize or ignore such control codes. When handling binary data or designing terminal interfaces, 0x08 remains relevant for implementing basic cursor movement and screen-editing behavior.