title: What is the backslash in a Clojure REPL?
body: <p>I am working in a Clojure REPL, and I see backslashes when I run some commands.  Some quick googling did not turn up any obvious answers.</p>
  
  <p>If I run</p>
  
  <pre><code>Clojure 1.8.0
  Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM 1.8.0_91-b14
     (nth "I heart Clojure!" 4)
  =&gt; \a
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>What is the backslash here?</p>