Mathematical Bold Small A 𝐚

Visual Description: This symbol appears as a compact, solid glyph. The letter a is bold with even stroke width. It has a simple, rounded form that stays legible in dense math. It stands out next to operators and numbers in formulas. In calculators and editors, it acts as a clear placeholder variable.

Meaning & Usage: This character is used to denote a variable or parameter. It can represent a scalar value or a component of a vector, depending on the context. Bold styling helps distinguish math symbols from surrounding text. Users often encounter it in templates, examples, and quick math snippets in software.

Historical Background: Historically, bold letters were introduced in mathematical typography to set variables apart from ordinary words. As typesetting and later digital screens evolved, bold math symbols gained prominence in charts and textbooks. The practice spread to software interfaces, where bold symbols help users locate important parameters quickly during workflows.

Practical Use: In practice, the bold a serves as a visible anchor in formulas, calculators, and UI controls. It marks the primary variable to edit or compare. Quick controls like sliders, step buttons, or copyable presets often reference bold symbols for fast operations. This visual cue supports clarity and speed in math work.

See our category page for related symbols.

Look‑alikes: a (U+61).

Need styled alternatives? Try the Fancy Text tool.