Keyboard Symbols Names: Complete Guide to Names, Meanings, and How to Type Them

If you have ever looked at a keyboard and wondered, “What is this symbol called?”, you are not alone. Symbols such as @, #, &, *, _, ~, |, {}, and [] are used every day, but their names are not always obvious.

This complete guide to keyboard symbols names explains the most common symbols, their alternative names, meanings, uses, and how to type them. It also covers Windows and Mac keyboards, programming symbols, mathematical symbols, mobile keyboards, and differences between US and UK terminology.

What Are Keyboard Symbols?

Keyboard symbols are characters that are not ordinary letters or numbers. They can represent punctuation, mathematical operations, currency, commands, programming functions, or other information.

Common keyboard symbols include:

• ! — Exclamation mark
• @ — At sign
• # — Number sign or hash
• $ — Dollar sign
• % — Percent sign
• ^ — Caret
• & — Ampersand
• * — Asterisk
• _ — Underscore
• + — Plus sign
• = — Equal sign
• ~ — Tilde
• | — Vertical bar or pipe

The exact meaning of a symbol depends on where it is being used. For example, * can mean multiplication in mathematics, a wildcard in some systems, or an asterisk for a footnote in writing.

Keyboard Symbols Names at a Glance

The following table provides a quick reference to commonly used keyboard symbols.

Keyboard Symbols on the Number Row

On a standard US keyboard, many frequently used symbols share keys with the number row. Pressing Shift plus the corresponding number generally produces the symbol.

! — Exclamation Mark

How to type: Shift + 1

The ! symbol is called an exclamation mark. In American English, it is also commonly called an exclamation point.

It expresses strong emotion, emphasis, surprise, or urgency.

Example:

Stop!

In programming, ! may also represent logical NOT or have another language-specific function.

@ — At Sign

How to type: Shift + 2 on a standard US keyboard

The @ symbol is called the at sign.

Its best-known use is in email addresses:

hello@example.com

It is also widely used for social media usernames and mentions.

# — Number Sign or Hash

How to type: Shift + 3 on a standard US keyboard

The # symbol has several names, including:

• Number sign
• Hash
• Hash sign
• Octothorpe

In the United States, it can be used before a number:

#5

On social media, it is commonly called a hashtag when used to create a topic label.

Example:

#Technology

$ — Dollar Sign

How to type: Shift + 4

The $ symbol is called the dollar sign.

It is used primarily to represent dollar-denominated currencies.

Example:

$100

The exact currency represented can depend on the surrounding context.

% — Percent Sign

How to type: Shift + 5

The % symbol is called the percent sign.

It means a quantity per hundred.

Examples:

50%

10% discount

It is common in mathematics, finance, statistics, prices, and everyday writing.

^ — Caret

How to type: Shift + 6

The ^ symbol is commonly called a caret. It is also related to the circumflex symbol used in typography and language.

Its meaning depends heavily on context. In programming, it may represent an operation such as bitwise XOR. In some mathematical or plain-text contexts, it can indicate exponentiation.

Example:

2^3

& — Ampersand

How to type: Shift + 7

The & symbol is called an ampersand.

It represents the word and.

Example:

Research & Development

The ampersand is especially common in company names, headings, abbreviations, and programming.

* — Asterisk

How to type: Shift + 8

The * symbol is called an asterisk.

It can be used for:

• Footnotes
• Multiplication
• Wildcards
• Search functions
• Programming
• Correcting or censoring text

Example:

5 * 6 = 30

( and ) — Parentheses

How to type: Shift + 9 and Shift + 0

The characters ( and ) are called parentheses.

Individually:

• ( — Left or opening parenthesis
• ) — Right or closing parenthesis

They are used to group information.

Example:

(important information)

They are also heavily used in mathematics and programming.

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Keyboard Symbols on Other Common Keys

– — Hyphen or Minus Sign

The – character can be called a hyphen when joining words and a minus sign when performing subtraction.

Example as a hyphen:

well-known

Example as a mathematical operator:

10 – 4

Technically, the keyboard character and the typographically correct mathematical minus sign are not always identical.

_ — Underscore

The _ symbol is called an underscore or low line.

On many keyboards, it is typed with:

Shift + Hyphen

It is commonly used in:

• Usernames
• File names
• Programming
• Database fields
• URLs and identifiers

Example:

my_document

+ — Plus Sign

The + symbol is called the plus sign.

It represents addition.

Example:

5 + 5 = 10

It can also mean adding, combining, or including something in technical contexts.

= — Equal Sign

The = symbol is called the equal sign or equals sign.

Example:

10 = 10

It is one of the most recognizable mathematical symbols and is also fundamental in many programming languages.

Brackets and Parentheses: What Are They Called?

Brackets are a common source of confusion because different types have different names.

( ) — Parentheses

These are called parentheses.

• ( — Left parenthesis
• ) — Right parenthesis

They are common in writing, mathematics, and programming.

[ ] — Square Brackets

These are called square brackets.

• [ — Left square bracket
• ] — Right square bracket

They are commonly used in:

• Citations
• Editorial additions
• Programming
• Arrays
• Technical documentation

{ } — Curly Braces

These are called curly braces, curly brackets, or simply braces.

• { — Left curly brace
• } — Right curly brace

They are especially important in programming languages such as JavaScript, Java, C, C++, and many others.

< > — Angle Brackets

These are called angle brackets.

• < — Left angle bracket
• > — Right angle bracket

When used mathematically, they are normally called:

• < — Less-than sign
• > — Greater-than sign

They are also important in HTML and XML.

Punctuation Keyboard Symbols and Names

, — Comma

The , symbol is called a comma.

It separates items, phrases, and clauses.

Example:

apples, oranges, and bananas

. — Period or Full Stop

The . symbol has several names depending on context.

It may be called:

• Period
• Full stop
• Dot

It is used to end sentences, represent decimals, and form domain names.

Example:

example.com

: — Colon

The : symbol is called a colon.

It is commonly used before lists and explanations.

Example:

You need three things: water, food, and shelter.

It is also used in time notation:

10:30

; — Semicolon

The ; symbol is called a semicolon.

It can connect closely related clauses in writing and is also used in many programming languages.

‘ — Apostrophe or Single Quote

The ‘ character can be called an apostrophe in ordinary writing.

Example:

Sarah’s book

When used in programming, it is commonly called a single quote.

Example:

‘Hello’

“ — Double Quote

The ” symbol is called a double quotation mark, quotation mark, or double quote.

It is commonly used around quoted text and strings in programming.

Example:

“Hello”

? — Question Mark

The ? symbol is called a question mark.

It normally appears at the end of a direct question.

Example:

What time is it?

Slash Symbols and Their Names

/ — Forward Slash

The / character is called a slash or forward slash.

It is commonly used in:

• Website addresses
• Dates
• File paths on some systems
• Fractions
• Programming

\ — Backslash

The \ character is called a backslash.

It is particularly common in programming and Windows file paths.

Example:

C:\Users\John

The forward slash / and backslash \ are different characters and should not be confused.

The Pipe Symbol |

The | character is commonly called a vertical bar, vertical line, or pipe.

Its name depends on the context.

In programming and command-line environments, it is often called a pipe.

It can also be used as a separator:

Home | Services | Contact

The Tilde ~

The ~ symbol is called a tilde.

It has several uses.

In mathematics and general writing, it can indicate approximation.

Example:

~100 people

In programming and computing, it can have language- or system-specific meanings.

The Backtick `

The ` symbol is known as a backtick, grave accent, or grave quote.

It should not be confused with the apostrophe.

Compare:

• Apostrophe: ‘
• Backtick: `

Backticks are frequently used in programming and Markdown.

Mathematical Keyboard Symbols

Keyboard symbols are frequently used to represent mathematical operations and relationships.

Common Mathematical Symbols

Some mathematical symbols do not appear directly on standard keyboards and may require Unicode input, an equation editor, or a character-selection tool.

Keyboard Symbols Used in Programming

Programmers use symbols extensively, and the same character can have different meanings in different programming languages.

Common programming symbols include:

() — Parentheses
[] — Square brackets
{} — Curly braces
; — Semicolon
: — Colon
= — Assignment/equality-related syntax
== — Equality comparison in many languages
!= — Not equal in many languages
&& — Logical AND in many languages
|| — Logical OR in many languages
! — Logical NOT in many languages
// — Common single-line comment syntax
/* */ — Common block-comment syntax
# — Comment marker in several languages
| — Pipe or bitwise operator depending on context
\ — Backslash or escape-related syntax

It is important to remember that a symbol’s name does not automatically tell you its programming function. Always check the language-specific documentation.

Keyboard Symbols in File Names and URLs

Some symbols appear frequently in digital file names, web addresses, and identifiers.

Underscore _

Often used to separate words:

project_report

Hyphen –

Common in URLs and file names:

keyboard-symbols

Period .

Used in file extensions:

document.pdf

And domain names:

example.com

Forward Slash /

Used in web addresses:

example.com/blog/article

Backslash \

Frequently used in Windows paths:

C:\Documents\Files

The exact rules for allowed symbols can vary between operating systems, websites, and applications.

Keyboard Symbols in Passwords

Many websites allow or encourage symbols in passwords because they increase character variety.

Common password symbols include:

! @ # $ % ^ & *

However, password requirements vary by website. Some services allow only certain special characters.

When creating a password, follow the specific requirements shown by the service rather than assuming every symbol is accepted.

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US Keyboard Symbols vs. UK Keyboard Symbols

Keyboard symbol layouts can vary by country.

A US keyboard layout and a UK keyboard layout have several differences in the placement and availability of symbols.

For example, the @ and quotation mark keys are positioned differently on common US and UK layouts. Some punctuation symbols also appear in different locations.

This means that a keyboard shortcut that works on a US keyboard may not produce the same character on a UK keyboard.

Why Keyboard Layout Matters

If a shortcut does not produce the expected symbol, check:

1. Your physical keyboard layout.
2. Your operating system’s keyboard language.
3. Whether you are using US, UK, or another regional layout.
4. Whether Num Lock or another keyboard mode is affecting input.

How to Type Keyboard Symbols on Windows

Most common symbols can be typed using the keyboard’s standard keys.

For a US keyboard, examples include:

• ! → Shift + 1
• @ → Shift + 2
• # → Shift + 3
• $ → Shift + 4
• % → Shift + 5
• ^ → Shift + 6
• & → Shift + 7
• * → Shift + 8
• ( → Shift + 9
• ) → Shift + 0
• _ → Shift + –
• + → Shift + =
• { → Shift + [
• } → Shift + ]
• : → Shift + ;
• ” → Shift + ‘
• < → Shift + ,
• > → Shift + .
• ? → Shift + /
• ~ → `Shift + “

These combinations are based on a standard US keyboard layout and may differ on other layouts.

How to Type Keyboard Symbols on Mac

On a Mac, many symbols are typed using the Shift key in combination with another key, much like on Windows.

For a standard US Mac keyboard, common examples include:

• ! → Shift + 1
• @ → Shift + 2
• # → Shift + 3
• $ → Shift + 4
• % → Shift + 5
• ^ → Shift + 6
• & → Shift + 7
• * → Shift + 8
• ( → Shift + 9
• ) → Shift + 0
• _ → Shift + –
• + → Shift + =

Other symbols may require Option, Shift + Option, or a different keyboard layout.

How to Type Symbols on a Mobile Keyboard

Mobile keyboards work differently from physical keyboards.

On many Android and iPhone keyboards, you can access symbols by tapping a key such as:

123

or

#+=

The exact arrangement depends on the keyboard app, operating system, language, and device.

Common symbols such as @, #, $, %, &, *, _, and + are usually available from the numbers/symbols screen.

Why Mobile Symbol Names Can Be Different

A mobile keyboard may display several symbols on one key or hide less frequently used characters behind a long press.

For example, holding down a punctuation or letter key may reveal additional characters.

Keyboard Symbol Names: US and UK Terminology

Some keyboard symbols have multiple accepted names.

The correct name often depends on the character’s context, not simply its appearance.

Keyboard Symbol Names You Should Not Confuse

Some symbols look similar but have different names and purposes.

Hyphen vs. Minus vs. Dash

These are related but not necessarily identical typographic characters.

• – — Hyphen/minus keyboard character
• – — En dash
• — — Em dash

The standard keyboard usually provides the hyphen-minus character -, while en and em dashes may require other input methods.

Apostrophe vs. Backtick

• ‘ — Apostrophe or single quote
• ` — Backtick or grave accent

They look different and have different technical uses.

Slash vs. Backslash

• / — Forward slash
• \ — Backslash

This distinction is particularly important in programming and file paths.

Parentheses vs. Brackets vs. Braces

• ( ) — Parentheses
• [ ] — Square brackets
• { } — Curly braces

Using the correct name makes technical instructions much easier to understand.

Full Keyboard Symbols Cheat Sheet

Here is a compact list of the most important keyboard symbols names:

Frequently Asked Questions About Keyboard Symbols Names

What is the @ symbol called on a keyboard?

The @ symbol is called the at sign. It is most commonly recognized from email addresses and online usernames.

What is the # symbol called?

The # symbol is commonly called the number sign or hash. It is also called an octothorpe. When used on social media to label a topic, it is commonly called a hashtag.

What is the & symbol called?

The & symbol is called an ampersand. It represents the word “and.”

What is the * symbol called?

The * symbol is called an asterisk. It is used in writing, mathematics, searches, and programming.

What is the _ symbol called?

The _ symbol is called an underscore. It is frequently used in file names, usernames, programming, and digital identifiers.

What is the ~ symbol called?

The ~ symbol is called a tilde. It can represent approximation and has several technical uses in computing.

What is the | symbol called?

The | symbol is called a vertical bar, vertical line, or pipe. In programming and command-line environments, “pipe” is particularly common.

What are {} called on a keyboard?

The {} characters are called curly braces, curly brackets, or simply braces.

What are [] called?

The [] characters are called square brackets.

What are () called?

The () characters are called parentheses.

What is the \ symbol called?

The \ symbol is called a backslash. It is commonly used in programming and Windows file paths.

What is the / symbol called?

The / symbol is called a slash or forward slash. It is common in URLs, dates, fractions, and programming.

What is the ` symbol called?

The ` character is called a backtick or grave accent. It is commonly used in programming and Markdown.

Why Learning Keyboard Symbol Names Is Useful

Knowing keyboard symbols names can save time in many situations.

For Everyday Computer Use

You can follow keyboard instructions more easily when you know terms such as underscore, slash, colon, and ampersand.

For Programming

Understanding symbol names makes it easier to read documentation, tutorials, error messages, and code.

For Search and Research

Knowing a symbol’s name lets you perform more precise searches.

For example, instead of searching for “wavy keyboard symbol,” you can search for “tilde keyboard symbol.”

For Technical Support

When asking for help, identifying a character by name can make your problem much easier for another person to understand.

For Writing and Editing

Knowing the difference between hyphens, quotation marks, apostrophes, parentheses, brackets, and other punctuation improves accuracy.

Final Thoughts

Learning keyboard symbols names is a simple skill that can make computer use, writing, programming, and online communication much easier. The most important symbols to recognize include @ (at sign), # (hash or number sign), & (ampersand), * (asterisk), _ (underscore), ~ (tilde), | (pipe), \ (backslash), and the different types of brackets.

Remember that a symbol can have more than one name, and its meaning can change depending on the context. Keyboard layout also matters, so Windows, Mac, US, UK, and mobile keyboards may use different positions or shortcuts.

Once you know both the name and function of each keyboard symbol, you’ll be better prepared to follow technical instructions, search for symbols, type special characters, and understand programming and digital terminology.

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Ryan Mitchell

I’m Ryan Mitchell, and I write about modern English, trending slang, and online expressions. I enjoy explaining the meanings, origins, and real-life usage of popular words in a simple way. I believe learning slang is an important step toward understanding today’s English-speaking culture. Through my work, I aim to help readers speak more naturally and stay updated with the latest language trends.