Juan:"Do you know what one of the biggest problems is with computer code?"
Peter:"No, what?"
Juan:"I can never remember the names in English of some of the signs or symbols that are used in computer code. It's not a problem when writing the symbol, but you look stupid when you have to write or type the symbol when talking to someone, because you don't know its name. For example, what do you call this symbol ' - '? Is it called a dash?"
Peter:"Yes, the ' - ' is commonly called a dash in computer code, but it is also called a hyphen when writing in both English and in computer code. And you call this symbol ' _ ', an underscore."
Juan:"I knew that. What's the name for the little star symbol?"
Peter:"Do you mean ' * ' this?"
Juan:"Yes."
Peter:"The ' * ' symbol is called an asterisk."
Juan:"And the ' @ ' symbol which you use in email addresses?"
Peter:"The ' @ ' symbol is called an at sign."
Juan:"Another symbol I have seen, is this ' / '."
Peter:"The ' / ' symbol is called forward slash, because its top part is leaning forward."
Juan:"So I suppose the ' \ ' symbol is called backslash because the top part is leaning back?"
Peter:"That's right. It's called backslash."
Juan:"And what do you call this symbol ' # '?"
Peter:"It has many names, it's often called the pound sign in America, but everywhere else, ' # ' is called hash."
Juan:"And the ' ( ' and ' ) ' symbols?"
Peter:"They are called parentheses, although they are sometimes called brackets (but not in America). The ' ( ' symbol is normally called open parenthesis and the ' ) ' symbol, close parenthesis.'
Juan:'I am confused. I thought that the brackets symbols were ' [ ' and ' ] '?"
Peter:"They are type of brackets, and although they are sometimes called brackets in America, the ' [ ' and ' ] ' symbols are normally called square brackets. There are another two types of brackets that are used. ' < ' and ' > ' are called angle brackets and ' { ' and ' } ' are normally called curly brackets. With all types of brackets, the first bracket is called 'open' and the second bracket is called 'close'. So, for example, ' < ' is called 'open angle bracket' and ' ] ' is called 'close square bracket'. Does that make sense?"
Juan:"I think so."