Dot Minus ∸
∸ (U+2238) is a standard Unicode character that you can copy and paste anywhere text is accepted. This page provides a concise reference with safe tips, internal links, and practical guidance so you can use it reliably across apps and platforms.
What it is and where it’s used: Dot Minus is part of the Symbols family (block: Mathematical Operators). If you need styled or decorative alternatives, try our Fancy Text tool to generate compatible text that works in most modern interfaces.
History & usage: DOT MINUS (U+2238) sits in the Mathematical Operators block. It is a distinct symbol used in math and technology. The character combines a dot with a minus sign. It appears in some formulas where clear subtraction or a left-right operation is needed. Its form helps users identify a specific operation quickly. In practice, the symbol is seen in education texts, software tools, and data displays. It supports compact notation in inline equations and in larger expressions. The symbol also helps separate elements in lists or comparisons in a math screen. When used, it signals a type of operation rather than a simple hyphen. The history of this symbol reflects its role in precise mathematical notation. It is chosen for clarity in formulas and user interfaces. In daily use, readers interpret it as an operation marker. Overall, common math symbols like this indicate operations or comparisons in formulas and user interfaces.
Copy and input: the quickest method is to copy the character here. You can also insert it by its codepoint U+2238 in many development tools or editors. Some operating systems provide a character viewer or input palette that lets you search by name or code and insert the glyph into documents.
Display and fallback: if you see an empty box (tofu) or a placeholder rectangle, the active font might not include this codepoint. Switching to a font with broader Unicode coverage or using a fallback font usually fixes the issue. On the web, ensure the page’s font stack includes a general‑purpose fallback.
Related references: browse the Categories for similar characters. When choosing a symbol, prefer the official codepoint for semantic clarity and better compatibility with search, copy, and accessibility tooling.
See our category page for related symbols.
Technical details
- Codepoint:
U+2238 - General Category:
Sm - Age:
1.1 - Bidi Class:
ON - Block:
Mathematical Operators - Script:
Common - UTF-8:
E2 88 B8 - UTF-16:
2238 - UTF-32:
00002238 - HTML dec:
∸ - HTML hex:
∸ - JS escape:
\u2238 - Python \N{}:
\N{DOT MINUS} - Python \u:
\u2238 - Python \U:
\U00002238 - URL-encoded:
%E2%88%B8 - CSS escape:
\2238
How to type / insert
Fast copy: click the Copy button near the top of this page.
By codepoint: in many editors and IDEs, you can insert via the Unicode code U+2238 or a built‑in character picker.
HTML: use the numeric entity ∸ (hex) or ∸ (decimal) when an HTML entity is needed.
Compatibility & troubleshooting
Font support: if the symbol does not render, the current font likely lacks this codepoint. Choose a font with broad Unicode coverage or allow a fallback font.
Web pages: ensure your CSS font stack includes a general fallback; avoid relying on images for common symbols to preserve accessibility and copyability.