Here's the story behind it
The location of the grave/tilde key (~) typically changes with the computer's language settings, but on US/UK QWERTY keyboards, it is usually located above the Tab key, below the Esc key, and to the left of the 1 key.
The grave/tilde key has a wide range of uses across different languages and computing contexts. One of its most relevant uses for the average PC enthusiast is its ability to open a command prompt console in many computer games. This feature often needs to be enabled in the game's settings. The console allows players to input text for cheats and other controls not immediately available in the game's graphical interface.
If your US/European Windows system doesn't have a grave/tilde key, you can create a single grave symbol by pressing Alt+96 and a tilde symbol by pressing Alt+126.
The grave accent (\'') and tilde (~') are also used in various programming languages and technical fields. For instance, in shell scripting and Unix-based systems, the tilde represents the home directory of the current user. In Markdown, the tilde is used to denote inline code or code blocks. Additionally, the grave accent is often used in text editors to create backticks, which are used for similar purposes in some programming languages and markdown syntax.
Although often overlooked, the tilde key plays a significant role in both everyday computing tasks and more advanced technical operations.