Keyboard Symbols and Names List with Meanings and Shortcuts

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Every computer keyboard contains dozens of special characters, punctuation marks, and navigation keys beyond standard letters and numbers. If you need to identify the exact name of symbol in keyboard layouts, this comprehensive visual guide provides immediate answers. In addition, learning the correct symbol name in keyboard of computer setups helps you execute software shortcuts, write clean code, and navigate daily typing tasks efficiently.

Knowing what every character represents simplifies technical communication. Therefore, understanding each keyboard symbol meaning ensures you can format documents, write terminal commands, and understand software syntax without hesitation.

Table of Contents

Symbols in Keyboard with Names and Complete Reference Chart

When learning the various symbols on a keyboard names, having a categorized lookup table makes identification quick and simple. Below is the master reference showing the essential symbols in keyboard with names alongside their primary functions.

Symbol	Official Key Name	Alternative Names	Primary Function and Usage
`~`	Tilde	Squiggly line, swung dash	Terminal home directory path, approximate math sign, accent mark
`	Grave Accent	Backtick, backquote, open quote	Code blocks in Markdown, JavaScript template literals, key above Tab
`!`	Exclamation Mark	Exclamation point, bang	Sentence emphasis, logical NOT operator in programming
`@`	At Sign	Commercial at, address sign, strudel	Email addresses, social media mentions, Python decorator
`#`	Hash Symbol	Pound sign, hashtag, number sign, octothorpe	Social media tags, issue tracking numbers, Python and Bash code comments
`$`	Dollar Sign	Currency symbol, cash sign	Financial figures, PHP variable prefix, Excel absolute cell reference
`.`	Period	Full stop, point, dot	Sentence endings, decimal numbers, domain names in web addresses
`,`	Comma	Separation mark	Clause separation in sentences, parameter separation in code
`?`	Question Mark	Interrogation mark	Question endings, ternary conditional operators in programming
`"`	Double Quotation Mark	Speech marks, double quotes	Direct speech dialogue, string literals in programming
`'`	Single Quotation Mark	Apostrophe, single quote	Contractions, possessive nouns, character literals in code

Mathematical Operators and Symbols on Keyboard Names

Mathematical keys and coding operators allow users to calculate numbers and execute programming logic directly.

Symbol	Official Key Name	Alternative Names	Primary Function and Usage
`%`	Percent Sign	Percentage sign, modulo	Calculations, discount rates, remainder division operator in coding
`^`	Caret	Hat, circumflex, exponent mark	Exponentiation in math, regex start of line anchor, bitwise XOR
`&`	Ampersand	And sign, address of operator	Joining words, company titles, logical AND comparisons in code
`*`	Asterisk	Star symbol, wildcard, times sign	Multiplication, Markdown bold text styling, pointer variable in C
`-`	Hyphen	Minus sign, dash, sub key	Compound words, subtraction calculations, command line flags
`_`	Underscore	Low line, understrike	snake_case variable names in coding, fill-in blank spaces
`+`	Plus Sign	Addition symbol, positive sign	Math addition, string concatenation in coding, browser zoom shortcut
`=`	Equals Sign	Equal mark, assignment operator	Math results, variable value assignment in coding, Excel formulas

Brackets Slashes and Structural Keyboard Signs

Brackets and slashes serve as structural boundaries for text side notes, math formulas, file paths, and web addresses.

Symbol	Official Key Name	Alternative Names	Primary Function and Usage
`(` `)`	Parentheses	Round brackets, open and close parens	Enclosing math formulas, function parameters, sentence side notes
`[` `]`	Square Brackets	Box brackets, closed brackets	Array indexing in code, phonetic notes, regular expression classes
`{` `}`	Curly Brackets	Braces, squiggly brackets	Code blocks in programming, JSON object declarations, set theory
`\|`	Vertical Bar	Pipe, vertical line, bar	Command piping in terminal consoles, logical OR operator in code
`\`	Backslash	Reverse solidus, escape slash	Windows file paths, escape characters in coding strings
`/`	Forward Slash	Slash, solidus, division stroke	Web URL paths, math division, self-closing HTML tags
`<` `>`	Angle Brackets	Chevrons, less than and greater than	HTML and XML tags, math inequality comparisons

What Is the Key Above Tab Called

The key located directly above the Tab key on a standard US keyboard is the Grave Accent and Tilde key.

This single key produces two separate characters depending on how you press it. Specifically, pressing the key by itself types the backtick or grave accent (`). In contrast, holding down the Shift key while pressing it produces the tilde symbol (~).

Close up of the tilde and backtick key located above the tab key on a keyboard — The grave accent and tilde key positioned directly above the Tab button

In modern computing, this key holds high practical importance. For instance, web developers use backticks to write multi-line strings and template literals in modern JavaScript. In addition, terminal users rely on the tilde as a fast shortcut to jump directly to their user home directory.

What Are the Special Keys on a Computer Keyboard and Their Functions

Standard computer keyboards include a dedicated set of modifier and control keys designed to execute commands, modify keystrokes, and navigate computer operating systems.

Escape Key (Esc): The Escape key cancels ongoing processes, closes pop-up dialog boxes, and exits full-screen playback modes.
Function Keys (F1 through F12): These top-row keys execute software shortcuts. For example, pressing F1 opens help menus, F2 renames selected files, and F5 refreshes web browser pages.
Control Key (Ctrl): The Control key acts as the main modifier for keyboard shortcuts, including Ctrl + C to copy, Ctrl + V to paste, and Ctrl + Z to undo an action.
Alternate Key (Alt): The Alt key allows users to switch open application windows with Alt + Tab or close active windows with Alt + F4.
Spacebar or SP Key: The spacebar is the longest key on the keyboard, labeled as SP on some legacy systems. Therefore, it inserts standard whitespace between characters and pauses playback in video applications.
Tab Key: The Tab key advances the text cursor forward by a set indentation block and jumps between input fields on websites.

How to Type Special Characters Not Visible on a Standard Physical Keyboard

Many mathematical symbols, foreign currency markers, and accented letters do not have dedicated physical keys on standard keyboards. However, you can input these characters easily using system shortcuts.

Windows Character Shortcuts: Hold down the Alt key and type a numeric code on your number pad. For example, pressing Alt + 0169 creates the copyright symbol (©), while Alt + 0176 types the degree symbol (°). In addition, pressing Windows Key + Period opens the built-in emoji and symbol panel.
Mac Special Character Shortcuts: Hold down the Option key while pressing a standard key. For instance, pressing Option + 4 inserts the cent symbol (¢), while Option + 2 types the trademark sign (™). Furthermore, pressing Control + Command + Spacebar opens the complete macOS Character Viewer.
HTML and Unicode Entities: Programmers input hidden characters into web code using named entities. For instance, typing © displays ©, while typing € displays €.

Best Keyboards for Programming Tasks Requiring Frequent Symbol Input

Mechanical keyboard used for programming tasks with visible symbol keys and code editor — Keyboard layouts designed for rapid symbol entry in software development and coding

Programmers and data analysts frequently type brackets, slashes, and operators. Therefore, choosing the right keyboard layout prevents wrist strain and speeds up daily coding.

75% and Tenkeyless (TKL) Keyboards: These layouts retain the dedicated function row, arrow cluster, and home navigation block while removing the number pad. As a result, your mouse sits closer to your hands while keeping symbol keys easily accessible.
Full-Size Mechanical Keyboards: Full-size boards provide a dedicated number pad with dedicated mathematical operator keys. Consequently, this setup works best for financial modelers and data entry specialists.
Programmable Custom Keyboards: Mechanical keyboards using QMK or VIA firmware allow you to map custom symbol layers to any key. Because of this feature, you can output complex symbols like angle brackets or curly braces with a single keystroke.

Custom Keycaps Featuring Unique or Specialized Symbols

Custom keycaps allow users to customize their physical keyboards with printed code symbols, function legends, and specialized typography.

Aftermarket Keycap Sets: Online specialty stores like Drop, KBDFans, and Keychron offer PBT keycap sets featuring distinct symbol typography and accent colors.
Mac and Windows Specific Sets: Many aftermarket sets include swappable modifier keys for both Windows and Mac operating systems, ensuring clear labels for Command, Option, and Alt keys.

How to Use Shortcut Keys Involving Keyboard Symbols

Combining modifier keys with punctuation symbols unlocks powerful navigation and editing shortcuts across common productivity software.

Formula Shortcuts in Excel: Pressing Ctrl + Backtick toggles the display between calculated cell values and raw underlying formulas. In addition, adding the dollar sign ($) inside a cell reference locks the row or column coordinates.
Zoom Adjustments in Browsers: Pressing Ctrl + Plus Sign zooms in on web pages, while Ctrl + Minus Sign zooms out, and Ctrl + 0 resets the display to standard scale.
Code Commenting in Editors: In developer code editors like VS Code, highlighting lines and pressing Ctrl + Forward Slash automatically comments out the selected code block.

Mastering the names and shortcut combinations of keyboard symbols transforms everyday typing into an efficient, productive workflow. Using structured reference charts ensures you can identify and apply every special character accurately across any software platform.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the @ symbol called and what is its use?

The @ symbol is officially called the at sign. It is used in email addresses to separate usernames from domain names and on social media platforms to tag individual accounts.

What is the # symbol called and how is it used?

The # symbol is known as the hash, hashtag, pound sign, or octothorpe. It is widely used for categorizing social media topics, marking numbers, and writing code comments.

What is the star on a keyboard called?

The star on a keyboard is called an asterisk (*). It represents multiplication in math, denotes footnotes in writing, and formats bold text in Markdown.

What is this called - on a keyboard?

The - symbol on a keyboard is called a hyphen, minus sign, or dash. It connects compound words, represents subtraction in arithmetic, and acts as a command parameter flag in terminal consoles.

What is the caret symbol ^ and how is it used in computing?

The caret symbol (^) represents exponentiation in mathematics. In computer programming, it functions as a bitwise XOR operator, and in regular expressions, it indicates the start of a text line.

What is the key above tab called on a keyboard?

The key above Tab is the grave accent and tilde key. Pressing it alone produces a backtick (`), while pressing it with Shift produces a tilde (~).

What is the / symbol called on a computer keyboard?

The / symbol is called a forward slash or solidus. It is used for division in math equations, directory separation in web URLs, and closing tags in HTML code.

What is the difference between backslash and forward slash?

A forward slash (/) leans forward and is used for web URLs and math division, while a backslash () leans backward and is used for Windows file paths and escape sequences in programming.

What are the square brackets [] and curly brackets {} used for?

Square brackets ([]) are used for array indexing and citations, while curly brackets ({}) enclose code blocks, functions, and JSON data structures in programming.

How to get the @ symbol on keyboard?

To type the at sign (@) on a standard US keyboard, hold down the Shift key and press the number 2 key on the top row.

What is the SP button on a keyboard?

The SP button is an abbreviation for the spacebar found on some specialized and vintage keyboards. It inserts empty spacing between typed words.

What does the ampersand & symbol mean?

The ampersand (&) represents the word "and". In computer programming languages, a double ampersand (&&) represents a logical AND comparison.

What are the angle brackets <> called?

Angle brackets (<>), also known as chevrons or inequality signs, represent less-than and greater-than values in math, and enclose tags in HTML and XML programming.

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2 responses to “Name of Symbol in Keyboard Master Visual Chart and Meanings”

Cherie Olds

October 8, 2025

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