Plus-Minus Sign ±

± (U+B1) 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: Plus-Minus Sign is part of the Symbols family (block: Latin-1 Supplement). If you need styled or decorative alternatives, try our Fancy Text tool to generate compatible text that works in most modern interfaces.

History & usage: The PLUS-MINUS SIGN is a symbol used in math and engineering. It lives in the Latin-1 Supplement block and is common in many keyboards and fonts. In formulas, it shows two possible values: addition and subtraction. It helps keep equations compact and readable. In user interfaces, the symbol can indicate a choice or a range of results. When a calculation could yield a plus or a minus result, the sign is a quick cue for the user. Historians note that similar marks appeared in early European math and gradually became standard. Today, students see it in algebra, physics, and statistics. In calculators and software, it is used to display alternative outcomes without writing two separate expressions. The symbol is simple: a curved line with a short cross. It remains reliable because it is widely supported by fonts and encoding systems. Overall, the PLUS-MINUS SIGN simplifies messaging in formulas and interfaces, helping readers understand options at a glance.

Copy and input: the quickest method is to copy the character here. You can also insert it by its codepoint U+B1 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.