Characters Names | What A Symbol And Sign Is Called

Below is an overview of 85 frequently used characters, punctuation symbols or signs that are included in most fonts. These include punctuation marks and other symbols used in typography. Technically these character shapes are called glyphs. Next to each glyph name the Unicode and HTML entity are listed, as well as the ASCII code and HTML entity if these are available. I also listed the Windows ALT keystroke or the Mac equivalent that can be used to insert the character in a text. The typeface used for most examples is Arial Bold. Small lines indicate the baseline, x-height, and the ascender and descender heights.

Click a character

Currency	$ ¢ € £ ₽ ₹ ¥ ¤
Letters	æ Æ œ Œ â ç è
Math	+ – × ÷ = ≠ ≈ ≅ ¬ ± < ≤ ≥ > ≡ # % ‰ ‱ ∞
Numbers	½ ⅓ ¼ ⅔ ¾ ¹ ² ³
Punctuation	. , : ; ! ¡ ? ¿ ‽ & ' " @ \ ¦ • { } ( ) [ ] ° ¨ ‹ › « » … ~ _
Symbols	✓ | ¦ † ‡ ° ¨ ♀ ♂ ◊ * µ Å Ω ¶ © ® ™ §
Emoji	Here 😀

AE ligatures – æ and Æ

Lowercase aeUnicode: U+000E6 HTML entity: æ – HTML code: æ PC keystroke: ALT+0230

Uppercase aeUnicode: U+000C8 HTML entity: Æ – HTML code: Æ PC keystroke: ALT+0198

Almost Equal To – ≈

Unicode: U+02248 HTML entity: ≈ – HTML code: ≈ Also called approximately equals, asymptotic to or the double tilde. The tilde (~), approximately equal to (≅) and asymptotically equal to (≃) are other signs used to indicate approximation, depending on the context.

Ampersand – &

Unicode: U+00026 – ASCII: 38HTML entity: & – HTML code: &Logogram derived from the letters et – Latin for ‘and’ PC keystroke: usually found in the top row

Angstrom – Å

Unicode: U+0212BHTML code: ÅLetter from the Swedish alphabet that is used to indicate a unit of length equal to 0.1 nanometre (10−10 m)

Apostrophe – ‘

Unicode: U+00027 – ASCII: 39HTML entity: ' – HTML code: 'Also called the closing single quotation markPC keystroke: ALT+39 or ALT+0027

Approximately equal to – ≅

Unicode: U+02245HTML entity: ≅ – HTML code: ≅

Asterisk – *

Unicode: U+0002A – ASCII: 42HTML entity: * – HTML code: * PC keystroke: ALT+42

At Sign – @

Unicode: U+00040 – ASCII: 64HTML entity: @ – HTML code: @ In Unicode this is called the commercial at glyph.

Backslash – \

Unicode: U+0005C – ASCII: 92HTML entity: \ – HTML entity: \ The Unicode name is reverse solidus even though that glyph is less vertical.

Broken Vertical Bar – ¦

Unicode: U+000A6HTML entity: ¦ – HTML code: ¦ PC keystroke: ALT+0166

Bullet – •

Unicode: U+02022HTML entity: • – HTML code: • PC keystroke: ALT+0149

Caret – ^

Unicode: U+0005E – ASCII: 94HTML entity: ^ – HTML code: ^Also called the hat, roof or house sign.Used in mathematics to represent an exponent, such as a square or cube (e.g. 6^3). Also used as shorthand for Ctrl (e.g. Ctrl+C = ^C) or to indicate content is missing. Not to be confused with the circumflex accent which is used on top of characters (e.g. â)

Cedilla

Unicode: U+000B8HTML entity: ç for a lowercase c with cedillaUsually added underneath other glyphs, e.g. ç or Ȩ. Resembles a small ‘5’ in most typefaces.

Cent Sign – ¢

Unicode: U+000A2HTML entity: ¢ – HTML code: ¢Used in many currencies, sometimes with a vertical line or no linePC keystroke: ALT+0162

Checkmark – ✓

Unicode: U+02713HTML entity: ✓ – HTML code: ✓There is also a bold or heavy checkmark ✔ (HTML code: ✔)

Colon – :

Unicode: U+0003A – ASCII: 58HTML entity: : – HTML code: :Punctuation mark that often precedes an explanation or a list

Comma – ,

Unicode: U+0002C – ASCII: 44HTML entity: , – HTML code: ,Punctuation mark that is among others used to separate parts of a sentence or list

Copyright Sign – ©

Unicode: U+000A9HTML entity: © – HTML code: ©Symbol used in copyright noticesPC keystroke: ALT+0169 – Mac keystroke: OPTION+g

Curly Brackets – { }

Left Curly BracketUnicode: U+0007B – ASCII: 123HTML entity: { – HTML code: {Also called the left brace

Right Curly BracketUnicode: U+0007D – ASCII: 125HTML entity: } – HTML code: }Also called the right brace

Currency Sign – ¤

Unicode: U+000A4HTML entity: ¤ – HTML code: ¤Shorthand for a currency’s name, especially in reference to amounts of moneyPC keystroke: ALT+0164

Daggers – † and ‡

DaggerUnicode: U+02020HTML entity: † – HTML code: †Typographical symbol to indicate a footnote (as an alternative to using asterisks)PC keystroke: ALT+0134 – Mac keystroke: OPTION+T

Double daggerUnicode: U+02021HTML entity: ‡ – HTML code: ‡PC keystroke: ALT+0135

Degree – °

Unicode: U+000B0HTML entity: ° – HTML code: °PC keystroke: ALT+0176 – Mac keystroke: SHIFT+OPTION+8

Diaeresis or Umlaut – ¨

Unicode: U+000A8HTML entity: ¨Diacritic (glyph added to other characters as an accent, e.g. ë or Ä) that is called a diaeresis in languages like French or Spanish while it is called an umlaut in German. More on the difference can be found here.PC keystroke: ALT+0168

Division Sign – ÷

Unicode: U+000F7HTML entity: ÷ – HTML code: ÷Used to indicate mathematical division even though the ISO 80000-2 standard recommends using the solidus (/) for this.PC keystroke: ALT+0247

Dollar Sign – $

Unicode: U+00024 – ASCII: 36HTML entity: $ – HTML code: $ Also used for the Peso and other currencies

Ellipsis – …

Unicode: U+02026HTML entity: … – HTML code: …Also called the triple-dot or suspension point. More info at WikipediaPC keystroke: ALT+0133 – Mac keystroke: OPTION+;

EM Dash

Unicode: U+02014HTML entity: — – HTML code: —PC keystroke: ALT+0151 – Mac keystroke: SHIFT+ALT+hyphen

EN Dash – —

Unicode: U+02013HTML entity: – – HTML code: –Punctuation mark that is mostly used to show ranges in numbers and dates (e.g. the years 1914–1918)PC keystroke: ALT+0150 – Mac keystroke: ALT+hyphen

Equals Sign – =

Unicode: U+0003D – ASCII: 61HTML entity: = – HTML code: =Mathematical symbol used to indicate equality. Also named the equality sign

Euro Sign – €

Unicode: U+020ACHTML entity: € – HTML code: € Used for the euro, the official currency of most European countries PC keystroke: ALT+0128

Exclamation Mark – !

Unicode: U+00021 – ASCII: 33HTML entity: ! – HTML code: !Also called the exclamation pointPunctuation mark used to indicate strong feelings or high volume, or to show emphasis, often at the end of a sentence

Female Sign – ♀

Unicode: U+002640HTML entity: ♀ – HTML code: ♀PC keystroke: ALT+12

Fractions – ½ ⅓ ¼ ⅔ ¾

One half fraction – ½Unicode: U+000BD – ASCII: –HTML entity: ½ – HTML code: ½PC keystroke: ALT+0189 or ALT+171

One quarter fraction – ¼Unicode: U+000BCHTML entity: ¼ – HTML code: ¼PC keystroke: ALT+0188 or ALT+172

One third fraction – ⅓Unicode: U+02153HTML entity: ⅓ – HTML code: ⅓

Three quarters fraction – ¾Unicode: U+000BEHTML entity: ¾ – HTML code: ¾

Two thirds fraction – ⅔Unicode: U+02154HTML entity: ⅔ – HTML code: ⅔PC keystroke: ALT+0190

Full Stop – .

Unicode: U+0002E – ASCII: 46HTML entity: . – HTML code: .Also called the period.

Grave Accent – `

Unicode: U+00060Also called the backtick.PC keystroke: ALT+96

Greater Than Sign – >

Unicode: U+0003E – ASCII: 62HTML entity: > – HTML code: >

Hyphen – –

Unicode: U+02010 HTML entity: ‐ – HTML code: ‐Punctuation mark used to join words, and to separate syllables of a single word.Different from and slightly shorter than the dashes, like the en-dash (–), and the minus sign (-)

Identical To Sign – ≡

Unicode: U+02261HTML entity: ≡ – HTML code: ≡Also called the triple bar sign.There is also a not identical to sign (≢ – HTML entity: ≢ – HTML code: ≨)

Infinity – ∞

Unicode: U+0221EHTML entity: ∞ – HTML code: ∞

Interrobang – ‽

Unicode: U+0203DHTML code: ‽Also called the bang or interabang and represented by ?!, !?, ?!? or !?!Punctuation mark used to expresses excitement or disbelief, or to ask a rhetorical question

Inverted Exclamation Mark – ¡

Unicode: U+000A1HTML entity: ¡ – HTML code: ¡Also called the upside down exclamation markPC keystroke: ALT+0161

Inverted Question Mark – ¿

Unicode: U+000BFHTML entity: ¿ – HTML code: ¿Also called the upside down question markPC keystroke: ALT+0191

Less Than Sign – <

Unicode: U+0003C – ASCII: 60HTML entity: &lt; – HTML code: &#60;

Less Than Or Equal To Sign – ≤

Unicode: U+02264 – ASCII: –HTML entity: &le; – HTML code: &#8804;

Lozenge – ◊

Unicode: U+025CAHTML entity: &loz; – HTML code: &#9674;Also called the diamond, rhombus or thin rhombusPC keystroke: ALT+4 for the black or filled lozenge

Male Sign – ♂

Unicode: U+02642 – ASCII: –HTML entity: &male; – HTML code: & #9794;PC keystroke: ALT+11

Micro – µ

Unicode: U+000B5 – ASCII: –HTML entity: &micro; – HTML code: &#181;This is the Greek letter mu.PC keystroke: ALT+0181 – Mac keystroke: ALT+M

Minus – –

Unicode: U+02212 – ASCII: 45HTML entity: &minus; – HTML code: &#8722;Math symbol used for subtraction as well as the notion of negativePC keystroke: ALT+45

More Than Or Equal To Sign – ≥

Unicode: U+02265 – ASCII: –HTML entity: &ge; – HTML code: &#8805;

Multiplication Sign – ×

Unicode: U+000D7 – ASCII: –HTML entity: &times; – HTML code: &#215;Also called the times sign or the dimension sign and different from the lower case ‘x’.PC keystroke: ALT+0215

Not Sign – ¬

Unicode: U+000ACHTML entity: &not; – HTML code: &#172; Also called the negation sign PC keystroke: ALT+0172

Not Equal To Sign – ≠

Unicode: U+02260 – ASCII: –HTML entity: &ne; – HTML code: &#8800; Mac keystroke: OPTION+=Sign used to indicate that two quantities, expressions or equations are not equal. This is not called the ‘slash equal’ sign.

Number Sign – #

Unicode: U+00023 – ASCII: 35Also referred to as the pound, hash or octothorp sign

OE ligatures – œ and Œ

Lowercase oeUnicode: U+00153HTML entity: &oelig; – HTML code: &#339;PC keystroke: ALT+0156

Uppercase oeUnicode: U+00152HTML entity: &OElig; – HTML code: &#338;PC keystroke: ALT+0140

Ohm Sign – Ω

Unicode: U+02126HTML code: &#8486;Identical to the greek capital letter omega

Parenthesis – ( )

Left ParenthesisUnicode: U+00028 – ASCII: 40HTML entity: &lpar; – HTML code: &#40;Punctuation mark used to enclose informationAlso referred to as the left round bracket or left curved bracket or opening bracket (in the UK)

Right ParenthesisUnicode: U+00029 – ASCII: 41HTML entity: &rpar; – HTML code: &#41; Punctuation mark used to enclose informationAlso referred to as the right round bracket or right curved bracket or closing bracket (in the UK)

Percent Sign – %

Unicode: U+00025 – ASCII: 37HTML entity: &percnt; – HTML code: &#37;Symbol used to indicate a percentage, a number or ratio as a fraction of 100.Also called the percentage sign

Per Mille Sign – ‰

Unicode: U+02030HTML entity: &permil; – HTML code: &#8240;Symbol used to indicate parts per 1000.Also called the per mil or per mille signPC keystroke: ALT+0137

Per Ten Thousand Sign – ‱

Unicode: U+02031HTML entity: &pertenk; – HTML code: &#8241;Symbol used to indicate parts per 10000.PC keystroke: ALT+0137

Pilcrow Sign – ¶

Unicode: U+000B6 HTML entity: &para; – HTML code: &#182;Also called the paragraph mark, paraph or alineaPC keystroke: ALT+0182 – Mac keystroke: OPTION+7

Plus Sign – +

Unicode: U+0002B – ASCII: 43HTML entity: &plus; – HTML code: &#43;Math symbol used for addition as well as the notion of positive

Plus Minus Sign – ±

Unicode: U+000B1HTML entity: &plusmn; – HTML code: &#177; Mathematical symbol with multiple meanings, also referred to as give or take.PC keystroke: ALT+0177

Pound Sign – £

Unicode: U+000A3 – ASCII: –HTML entity: &pound; – HTML code: &#163; In the US, the ‘pound sign’ refers to the number sign (#). There’s also a double dash version: ₤ PC keystroke: ALT+0163 – Mac keystroke: OPTION+3

Question Mark – ?

Unicode: U+0003F – ASCII: 63HTML entity: &quest; – HTML code: &#63;Punctuation mark to indicate an interrogative clause or phrase

Quotation Marks – ” ‹ › « »

There are regular and angled quotation marks. These punctuation marks are used for quotations in a number of languages.

Unicode: U+00022 – ASCII: 34HTML entity: &quot; – HTML code: &#34;Also called the double quote. Typographers usually prefer separate left and right double quotation marks. These look like this: “ ”. Left and right single quotation marks also exist: ‘ ’. Then there are two so-called low-9 variants: ‚ „ and a double high-reversed-9 quotation mark: ‟.

Single angle quotation marks

Left pointing single angle quotation markUnicode: U+02039HTML entity: &lsaquo; – HTML code: &#8249;Not to be confused with the ‘smaller than’ sign (<)

Right pointing single angle quotation markUnicode: U+0203AHTML entity: &rsaquo; – HTML code: &#8250;Not to be confused with the ‘greater than’ sign (>)

Double angle quotation marks

Double angle quotation marks are also called guillemets or double chevrons

Left pointing double angle quotation markUnicode: U+000ABHTML entity: &laquo; – HTML code: &#171;PC keystroke: ALT+0171

Right pointing double angle quotation markUnicode: U+000BBHTML entity: &raquo; – HTML code: &#187;PC keystroke: ALT+0187

Registered Sign – ®

Unicode: U+000AE – ASCII: –HTML entity: &reg; – HTML code: &#174;Also called the Racol.PC keystroke: ALT+0174 – Mac keystroke: OPTION+R

Ruble – ₽

Unicode: U+020BDHTML code: &#8318;Used for the ruble or rouble, the currency of Russia

Rupee – ₹

Unicode: U+020B9HTML code: &#8377;Used for the rupee, the currency of India. There is a second sign for the rupee: ₨ (Unicode: U+20A8, HTML code: &#8360;). It is used by other countries that also use a rupee, such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal

Section Sign – §

Unicode: U+000A7 – ASCII: –HTML entity: &sect; – HTML code: &#167;PC keystroke: ALT+0167

Semicolon – ;

Unicode: U+0003B – ASCII: 59HTML entity: &semi; – HTML code: &#59;

Slash – /

Unicode: U+0002F – ASCII: 47HTML entity: &sol; – HTML code: &#47;Also called the forward slash or stroke (UK).In Unicode it is called the solidus even though that glyph is less vertical.

Square Brackets – [ ]

Left BracketUnicode: U+0005B – ASCII: 91HTML entity: &lbrack; – HTML code: &#91;Also called the left crotchet or opening bracket (in the USA)

Right BracketUnicode: U+0005D – ASCII: 93HTML entity: &rbrack; – HTML code: &#93;Also called the right crotchet or closing bracket (in the USA)

Superscript One – ¹

Unicode: U+000B9HTML entity: &sup1; – HTML code: &#185;PC keystroke: ALT+0185

Superscript Two – ²

Unicode: U+000B2HTML entity: &sup2; – HTML code: &#178;PC keystroke: ALT+0178

Superscript Three – ³

Unicode: U+000B9HTML entity: &sup3; – HTML code: &#179;PC keystroke: ALT+0179

Tilde – ~

Unicode: U+0007EHTML entity: &tilde; – HTML code: &#126;Also called the swung dash, squiggly or twiddle.PC keystroke: ALT+0126Used to indicate ‘approximately’ or ‘around’. It can also indicate ‘similar to’. In some languages, the tilde is placed over a letter to indicate a change in its pronunciation.

Trade Mark Sign – ™

Unicode: U+02122 HTML entity: &trade; – HTML code: &#8482;Symbol to indicate that the preceding mark is an unregistered trademark. For registered trademarks ® is used.PC keystroke: ALT+0153 – Mac keystroke: OPTION+2

Underscore – _

Unicode: U+0005F – ASCII: 95HTML entity: &lowbar; – HTML code: &#95;Also known as the low line, low dash, or understrike glyphPC keystroke: ALT+95

Vertical Line – |

Unicode: U+0007C – ASCII: 124HTML entity: &vert; – HTML code: &#124;Also called the pipe, piping symbol, Sheffer stroke, vertical slash, think colon or divider line.Symbol that is commonly encountered in statements involving logic and setsPC keystroke: ALT+124

Yen Sign – ¥

Unicode: U+000A5HTML entity: &yen; – HTML code: &#165; Also used for the Chinese Yuan currencyPC keystroke: ALT+0165 – Mac keystroke: OPTION+Y

Other sources of information

I like the overviews of TopTal Designers, Penn State and Keynote Support