#### 2.4.8.1 Sharpsign Backslash ¶

Syntax: `#\<<x>>`

When the token x is a single character long, this parses as the literal character char. Uppercase and lowercase letters are distinguished after `#\`; `#\A` and `#\a` denote different character objects. Any single character works after `#\`, even those that are normally special to read, such as left-parenthesis and right-parenthesis.

In the single character case, the x must be followed by a non-constituent character. After `#\` is read, the reader backs up over the slash and then reads a token, treating the initial slash as a single escape character (whether it really is or not in the current readtable).

When the token x is more than one character long, the x must have the syntax of a symbol with no embedded package markers. In this case, the sharpsign backslash notation parses as the character whose name is `(string-upcase x)`; see Character Names.

For information about how the Lisp printer prints character objects, see Printing Characters.