11. Describe the purpose of special characters.

Special characters have various purposes depending on where they are being used. In general, they are used to perform specific functions or convey specific meanings in text or programming languages. Some special characters are used for formatting, such as line breaks, tabs, and spaces, while others are used for specific operations like mathematical calculations or symbolizing variables. Additionally, special characters can be used for punctuation, accents, or diacritical marks that are important for conveying meaning and clarity in written language. Overall, special characters play an important role in communication and programming by providing a standardized system for expressing ideas and conveying information.