Math symbols · U+F7

÷Division symbol

The obelus. Most of the world writes division as a fraction instead.

How to type it
Unicode
U+F7
Alt code
Alt+247
HTML
÷
Unicode name
Division Sign
÷
Your font
01 — Origin

Where the Division symbol comes from

The obelus was introduced as a division sign by Johann Rahn in 1659. Before that the same mark was an editorial symbol used since antiquity to flag a passage of doubtful authenticity — which turned out to be prophetic, because mathematicians now avoid it as ambiguous.

School arithmetic and calculator keys. Professional mathematics uses a fraction bar or a slash instead, because expressions like 6 ÷ 2(1+2) have no agreed reading — the reason that particular sum goes viral every couple of years.

Worth knowing
In parts of northern Europe the same mark historically meant subtraction, which is exactly the kind of ambiguity that got it retired from serious use.
02 — Codes

Division symbol codes

Tap any value to copy it. All of them produce the same character — they just belong to different places.

03 — How to type

How to type ÷ on any keyboard

Four ways, depending on what you are working in.

Windows
Hold Alt and type 247 on the numeric keypad, then release. Without a keypad, use the Character Map app (search “charmap”).
Mac
Press Control + Command + Space to open the character viewer, then search “division”. Double-click to insert.
Phone
There is no shortcut on a phone keyboard. Tap the symbol at the top of this page, then long-press in any text field and choose Paste.
Web and code
In HTML write ÷ or ÷. In CSS content: "\00F7". Make sure the page is served as UTF-8 and the raw character works too.
04 — Font support

Will ÷ actually show up?

We checked 147 fonts installed on a normal machine and counted how many of them contain this character. A symbol missing from a font is drawn as an empty box — the text is still correct, it just cannot be drawn.

97% 143 of 147 fonts

Safe everywhere. This one is in almost every font ever installed, including the defaults on Windows, Mac and Android.

05 — Similar

Symbols people confuse with ÷

Lookalikes that are not the same character at all — separate codes, separate fonts, and here they number 8.

× Multiplication SignU+D7 · has its own page ± Plus-Minus SignU+B1 · has its own page
06 — Related

Other mathematical symbols

Symbols from the same family, each with its own page: where it came from, how to type it and how well fonts support it.

× Multiplication symbolIn 97% of system fonts µ Micro symbolIn 95% of system fonts ° Degree symbolIn 97% of system fonts ∞ Infinity symbolIn 89% of system fonts √ Square root symbolIn 89% of system fonts ∫ Integral symbolIn 89% of system fonts
07 — Same block

Math symbols

Operators, set theory, logic, calculus — everything past the number row.

All math symbols →
08 — FAQ

Division symbol — questions

How do I type the Division symbol?
On Windows hold Alt and type 247 on the numeric keypad. On Mac open the character viewer with Control + Command + Space and search “Division”. Or just tap the symbol on this page — it goes straight to your clipboard.
What is the HTML code for ÷?
Write it as ÷ or ÷ in HTML, \00F7 in CSS content, and \u00F7 in JavaScript. All four produce the same character.
Is ÷ an emoji?
No. ÷ is a text character — it takes the colour of the text around it and works in usernames, filenames and documents. An emoji is replaced by a colour picture and is sometimes stripped by forms and systems.
Why does ÷ show as a box on some devices?
Because that font has no drawing for this character. We checked 147 fonts on a normal machine and 143 of them include it. The character itself is always correct; only the drawing is missing.