Insert ASCII or Unicode Latin

ASCII and Unicode character encoding enables computers to store and exchange data with other computers and programs. Below are lists of frequently used ASCII and Unicode Latin-based characters. For Unicode characters for non-Latin-based scripts, see Unicode character code charts by script.

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Insert an ASCII or Unicode character into a document

Common symbol character codes

Common diacritical character codes

Common ligature character codes

ASCII nonprinting control characters

More information

Insert an ASCII or Unicode character into a document

If you only have to enter a few special characters or symbols, you can use the Character Map or type keyboard shortcuts. See the tables below, or see Keyboard shortcuts for international characters for a list of ASCII characters.

Notes:

Many languages contain symbols that could not be condensed into the 256-characters Extended ACSII set. As such, there are ASCII and Unicode variations to encompass regional characters and symbols, see Unicode character code charts by script.

If you have trouble entering the characters codes for the characters that you want, try using the Character Map.

Inserting ASCII characters

To insert an ASCII character, press and hold down ALT while typing the character code. For example, to insert the degree (º) symbol, press and hold down ALT while typing 0176 on the numeric keypad.

You must use the numeric keypad to type the numbers, and not the keyboard. Make sure that the NUM LOCK key is on if your keyboard requires it to type numbers on the numeric keypad.

Inserting Unicode characters

To insert a Unicode character, type the character code, press ALT, and then press X. For example, to type a dollar symbol ($), type 0024, press ALT, and then press X. For more Unicode character codes, see Unicode character code charts by script.

Important: Some of the Microsoft Office programs, such as PowerPoint and InfoPath, cannot convert Unicode codes to characters. If you need a Unicode character and are using one of the programs that doesn't support Unicode characters, use the Character Map to enter the character(s) that you need.

Notes:

If ALT+X converts the wrong character code into Unicode, select the correct character code before pressing ALT+X.

Alternatively, precede the correct character code with the text "U+". For example, typing "1U+B5" and pressing ALT+X will always return the text "1µ", while typing "1B5" and pressing ALT+X will return the text "Ƶ".

Using the Character Map

Character Map is a program built into Microsoft Windows that enables you to view the characters that are available in a selected font.

Using Character Map, you can copy individual characters or a group of characters to the Clipboard and paste them into any program that can display them. To open Character Map:

In Windows 10: Type "character" in the search box on the task bar, and choose Character Map from the results.

In Windows 8: Search for the word "character" on the Start screen and choose Character Map from the results.

In Windows 7: Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Character Map.

Characters are grouped by font. Click the fonts list to choose a set of characters. To select a character, click the character, click Select, click the right mouse button in your document where you want the character, and then click Paste.

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Common symbol character codes

For more character symbols, see the Character Map installed on your computer, ASCII character codes, or Unicode character code charts by script.

Glyph

Code

Glyph

Code

Currency symbols

ALT+0163

ALT+0165

ALT+0162

0024+ALT+X

€

ALT+0128

ALT+0164

Legal symbols

ALT+0169

ALT+0174

ALT+0167

™

ALT+0153

Mathematical symbols

ALT+0176

ALT+0186

√

221A+ALT+X

ALT+43

ALT+35

ALT+0181

ALT+62

ALT+37

(

ALT+40

[

ALT+91

)

ALT+41

]

ALT+93

∆

2206+ALT+X

Fractions

ALT+0188

ALT+0189

ALT+0190

Punctuation and dialectic symbols

ALT+63

ALT+0191

ALT+33

‼

203+ALT+X

ALT+45

ALT+39

ALT+34

ALT+44

ALT+46

ALT+124

ALT+47

ALT+92

ALT+96

ALT+94

ALT+0171

ALT+0187

ALT+174

ALT+175

ALT+126

ALT+38

ALT+58

{

ALT+123

;

ALT+59

}

ALT+125

Form symbols

□

25A1+ALT+X

√

221A+ALT+X

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Common diacritical character codes

For a complete list of the glyphs and their character codes, see the Character Map.

Glyph

Code

Glyph

Code

ALT+0195

ALT+0229

ALT+143

ALT+134

ALT+142

ALT+132

ALT+0192

ALT+133

ALT+0193

ALT+160

ALT+0194

ALT+131

ALT+128

ALT+135

010C+ALT+X

010D+ALT+X

ALT+144

ALT+130

ALT+0200

ALT+138

ALT+202

ALT+136

ALT+203

ALT+137

0114+ALT+X

0115+ALT+X

011E+ALT+X

011F+ALT+X

0122+ALT+X

0123+ALT+X

ALT+0207

ALT+139

ALT+0206

ALT+140

ALT+0205

ALT+161

ALT+0204

ALT+141

ALT+165

ALT+164

ALT+153

ALT+148

ALT+212

ALT+147

014C+ALT+X

014D+ALT+X

ALT+0210

ALT+149

ALT+0211

ALT+162

ALT+0216

00F8+ALT+X

015C+ALT+X

015D+ALT+X

015E+ALT+X

015F+ALT+X

ALT+154

ALT+129

ALT+016A

016B+ALT+X

ALT+0219

ALT+150

ALT+0217

ALT+151

00DA+ALT+X

ALT+163

0159+ALT+X

ALT+152

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Character codes for ligature characters

For more information about typographic ligatures, see Typographic ligature. For a complete list of the ligatures and their character codes, see the Character Map.

Glyph

Code

Glyph

Code

ALT+0198

ALT+0230

ALT+0223

ALT+225

ALT+0140

ALT+0156

02A9+ALT+X

02A3+ALT+X

02A5+ALT+X

02AA+ALT+X

02AB+ALT+X

0246+ALT+X

02A7+ALT+X

0409+ALT+X

042E+ALT+X

040A+ALT+X

047E+ALT+x

042B+ALT+X

0468+ALT+X

049C+ALT+X

ﷲ

FDF2+ALT+X

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ASCII nonprinting control characters

ASCII table numbers 0–31 are assigned for control characters used to control some peripheral devices such as printers. For example, 12 represents the form feed/new page function. This command instructs a printer to go to the top of the next page.

ASCII nonprinting control characters chart

Decimal

Character

Decimal

Character

null

data link escape

start of heading

device control 1

start of text

device control 2

end of text

device control 3

end of transmission

device control 4

inquiry

negative acknowledge

acknowledge

synchronous idle

bell

end of transmission block

backspace

cancel

horizontal tab

end of medium

line feed/new line

substitute

vertical tab

escape

form feed/new page

file separator

carriage return

group separator

shift out

record separator

shift in

unit separator

space

DEL

127

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More information

ASCII character codes

Hebrew keyboard

Keyboard shortcuts for international characters

Insert a check mark or other symbol