slash

Slash is a term with several distinct meanings across punctuation, computing, mathematics, and popular culture. The punctuation slash, or oblique slash, is a diagonal line used to separate alternatives (and/or), indicate fractions (3/4), and mark line breaks or dates in text and URLs. In information technology, the forward slash is the directory separator in Unix-like systems and is used in URLs; Windows uses backslashes for file paths, though both can appear in mixed contexts. In mathematics and arithmetic, the slash denotes division and fractions.

In popular culture, Slash is the stage name of Saul Hudson (born 1965), an English-American guitarist and songwriter best known as the lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses. Joining the band in 1985, he contributed to its breakthrough sound on albums such as Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusion, and later led projects including Slash's Snakepit and Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators. He is widely recognized for his distinctive guitar work and signature appearance.

Slash also refers to a genre of fan fiction known as slash fiction, which focuses on romantic or sexual relationships between fictional characters of the same sex, typically male/male pairings, drawn from various media properties. The term can also appear as a nickname or title in other cultural contexts.