PRB: The </SCRIPT> Tag Is Treated As a Closing Tag When Inside a Quoted String

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This article was previously published under Q316174

SYMPTOMS

When you use a </SCRIPT> Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tag inside a quoted string, the tag is treated as a closing tag rather than as a portion of the string.

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RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, do not directly use the </SCRIPT> tag inside a script section. Instead, you can use alternatives such as the following tag:

chr(60) & "/SCRIPT>

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STATUS

This behavior is by design.

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MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

Copy the following code to a Script.aspx page, and then save it to your Web server:

<script language="vb" runat="server" id="Script1">
    Private Sub scripTest(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)

	Dim myStr as String
				
	myStr = "</script>"

    End Sub
</script>

<HTML>
	<HEAD>
		<title>WebForm1</title>
	</HEAD>
	<body>
		<form id="Form1" method="post" runat="server">
			<asp:Button OnClick="scripTest" id="Button1" style="Z-INDEX: 101; LEFT: 232px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 62px" runat="server" Text="Button" Width="273px" Height="94px"></asp:Button>
		</form>
	</body>
</HTML>

Reference the test page in your Web browser, and the following error message appears:
Compiler Error Message:BC30648: String constants must end with a double quote
Modify the Script.aspx page, and then change the following line of code from:
myStr = "</script>"
to:
myStr = chr(60) & "/script>"
Note that the Script.aspx page functions as expected when you change the code.

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