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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.

In this article

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

º

ALT+0186

221A+ALT+X

+

ALT+43

#

ALT+35

µ

ALT+0181

<

ALT+60

>

ALT+62

%

ALT+37

(

ALT+40

[

ALT+91

)

ALT+41

]

ALT+93

2206+ALT+X

Fractions

¼

ALT+0188

½

ALT+0189

¾

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

Ã

ALT+0195

å

ALT+0229

Å

ALT+143

å

ALT+134

Ä

ALT+142

ä

ALT+132

À

ALT+0192

à

ALT+133

Á

ALT+0193

á

ALT+160

Â

ALT+0194

â

ALT+131

Ç

ALT+128

ç

ALT+135

Č

010C+ALT+X

č

010D+ALT+X

É

ALT+144

é

ALT+130

È

ALT+0200

è

ALT+138

Ê

ALT+202

ê

ALT+136

Ë

ALT+203

ë

ALT+137

Ĕ

0114+ALT+X

ĕ

0115+ALT+X

Ğ

011E+ALT+X

ğ

011F+ALT+X

Ģ

0122+ALT+X

ģ

0123+ALT+X

Ï

ALT+0207

ï

ALT+139

Î

ALT+0206

î

ALT+140

Í

ALT+0205

í

ALT+161

Ì

ALT+0204

ì

ALT+141

Ñ

ALT+165

ñ

ALT+164

Ö

ALT+153

ö

ALT+148

Ô

ALT+212

ô

ALT+147

Ō

014C+ALT+X

ō

014D+ALT+X

Ò

ALT+0210

ò

ALT+149

Ó

ALT+0211

ó

ALT+162

Ø

ALT+0216

ø

00F8+ALT+X

Ŝ

015C+ALT+X

ŝ

015D+ALT+X

Ş

015E+ALT+X

ş

015F+ALT+X

Ü

ALT+154

ü

ALT+129

Ū

ALT+016A

ū

016B+ALT+X

Û

ALT+0219

û

ALT+150

Ù

ALT+0217

ù

ALT+151

Ú

00DA+ALT+X

ú

ALT+163

Ÿ

0159+ALT+X

ÿ

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

Æ

ALT+0198

æ

ALT+0230

ß

ALT+0223

ß

ALT+225

Œ

ALT+0140

œ

ALT+0156

ʩ

02A9+ALT+X

ʣ

02A3+ALT+X

ʥ

02A5+ALT+X

ʪ

02AA+ALT+X

ʫ

02AB+ALT+X

ʦ

0246+ALT+X

ʧ

02A7+ALT+X

Љ

0409+ALT+X

Ю

042E+ALT+X

Њ

040A+ALT+X

Ѿ

047E+ALT+x

Ы

042B+ALT+X

Ѩ

0468+ALT+X

Ѭ

049C+ALT+X

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

0

data link escape

16

start of heading

1

device control 1

17

start of text

2

device control 2

18

end of text

3

device control 3

19

end of transmission

4

device control 4

20

inquiry

5

negative acknowledge

21

acknowledge

6

synchronous idle

22

bell

7

end of transmission block

23

backspace

8

cancel

24

horizontal tab

9

end of medium

25

line feed/new line

10

substitute

26

vertical tab

11

escape

27

form feed/new page

12

file separator

28

carriage return

13

group separator

29

shift out

14

record separator

30

shift in

15

unit separator

31

space

32

DEL

127

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