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A backtick in computer science represents a “shell” form of command structure that some call a “double operator.” Essentially, the use of backticks allows for evaluating a string as part of a general command. It may be used in computing languages like Perl or other types of code.
Techopedia Explains Backtick
With the type of shell command mentioned above, everything inside a set of backticks is evaluated before the main command runs, and its output is used by that command as a parameter. For example, running an identifying command inside of backticks allows the main parameter to have that identification when it executes. Examples of this type of command can be found in the Stackexchange blog and elsewhere.
Some experts call the situation invoked by backticks “command substitution” which is defined as allowing the output of a command to replace a main command.
Backticks are also sometimes called “graves” because of their linguistic use in many world languages. The grave accent is used in such diverse languages as French, Creole, Scottish Gaelic, Vietnamese, Welsh and some Native American languages.
