Types of Keyboard Symbols – Full List for Beginners with Use
Published: 4 Aug 2025
Keyboard symbols are special characters you use every day—like @ in emails or # in hashtags. But do you know what they’re called?
In this guide, I’ll show you the most common types of keyboard symbols and their names. This helps you type faster, write better, and understand what each key does.
Types of Keyboard Symbols with Names
We see many symbols on the keyboard every day. These are also called special characters or keyboard characters. Each symbol has a name and a purpose.
Here is a simple list of keyboard symbols with names:
- ! – Exclamation Mark
- @ – At Symbol
- # – Hash / Pound
- $ – Dollar Sign
- % – Percent Sign
- ^ –Caret
- & – Ampersand
- * – Asterisk
- () – Parentheses
- – – Hyphen / Dash
- _ – Underscore
- + – Plus Sign
- = – Equals Sign
- {} – Curly Braces
- [] – Square Brackets
- | – Pipe
- / – Forward Slash
- : – Colon
- ; – Semicolon
- ‘ – Apostrophe / Single Quote
- “ – Double Quotes
- < – Less Than
- > – Greater Than
- ? – Question Mark
- ~ – Tilde
- ` – Grave Accent
- , – Comma
- . – Period / Dot
Let’s understand these types of keyboard symbols and their uses one by one.
! – Exclamation Mark
The exclamation mark shows strong feelings like surprise, excitement, or warning in writing. For example, you type it at the end of a sentence like “Well done!” or “Be careful!”.
@ – At Symbol
The at symbol is mostly used in email addresses, like hello@example.com. You can type it by pressing Shift + 2 on a standard keyboard.
# – Hash / Pound
The hash symbol is often used on social media as a hashtag (like #ComputerBasics) or to mark numbers like #1. You can type it using Shift + 3 on most keyboards.
$ – Dollar Sign
The dollar sign is used to show currency, like $50, and you can type it using Shift + 4 on most standard keyboards.
% – Percent Sign
The percent sign shows percentages in numbers, like 50%, and you can type it using Shift + 5 on most keyboards.
^ – Caret
The caret symbol is used in math to show powers, like 2^3 means 2 raised to the power of 3. You can type it using Shift + 6 on most keyboards.
& – Ampersand
The ampersand symbol stands for “and” in writing, like in Tom & Jerry. It’s used often in names, brand titles, or shortcuts in coding.
* – Asterisk
The asterisk symbol is used for footnotes, highlighting words, or multiplication in math (3 × 4 = 12). It also appears in passwords or search shortcuts.
( ) – Parentheses
Parentheses symbols are used to add extra information in a sentence, like this (used often in writing and math). They also help group values in formulas.
– – Hyphen / Dash
The hyphen symbol is used to join words, like in “user-friendly” or break words at line endings. A dash is slightly longer and adds extra pause or info—like this.
_ – Underscore
The underscore symbol replaces spaces in filenames or usernames, like first_name or student_record. It’s also common in coding and email IDs.
+ – Plus Sign
The plus sign is used in math problems (like 5 + 3 = 8) and shortcuts like Ctrl + C. It means addition or a combination of keys.
= – Equals Sign
The equals sign shows that two values are the same, like in 4 + 4 = 8. It is also used in formulas and computer code.
{ } – Curly Braces
Curly braces (also called curly brackets) are used in coding to group code blocks, like {name = “Ajeet”} in JavaScript or C++. They help define functions and loops.
[ ] – Square Brackets
Square brackets are used to show optional text or lists in writing and coding. In programming, they help work with arrays like [10, 20, 30] in JavaScript or Python.
| – Pipe
The pipe symbol is often used in coding and commands to pass output from one program to another, like in dir | more on Windows. It also appears in some programming languages and command-line tools.
/ – Forward Slash
The forward slash is mostly used in web addresses, like https://example.com/page. It also helps in writing dates or separating options like yes/no.
: – Colon
The colon symbol introduces a list, explanation, or time format like 10:30 AM. It’s often used in writing to show something important follows.
; – Semicolon
The semicolon symbol connects two related sentences, like I wanted to code; my laptop was slow. It also separates long list items in writing.
‘ – Apostrophe / Single Quote
The apostrophe symbol shows ownership or shortens words. For example, in Rita’s book, it shows that the book belongs to Rita.
” – Double Quotes
The double quotes symbol is used to show spoken words or exact text. For example, She said, “I love coding.” uses quotes to show what she said.
< – Less Than Symbol
The less than symbol shows that one number or value is smaller than another. For example, in 5 < 10, it means 5 is less than 10.
> – Greater Than Symbol
The greater than symbol means one number or value is larger than another. In 8 > 3, it shows that 8 is greater than 3.
? – Question Mark Symbol
The question mark symbol ends a sentence that asks something. For example, in “What is your name?”, it shows a question is being asked.
~ – Tilde Symbol
The tilde symbol (~) is often used in math or coding to show approximation or similarity. For example, “~5 minutes” means about five minutes.
` – Grave Accent
The grave accent (`) is a special keyboard symbol used mostly in programming and foreign languages. It appears on the top-left of the keyboard, often with the tilde (~) key.
, – Comma
The comma (,) is a punctuation symbol used to separate words or parts of a sentence. For example, in “Apples, oranges, and bananas,” commas keep the list clear.
. – Period / Dot
The period (.), also called a dot, ends a sentence or is used in website links like “www.google.com”. It’s one of the most common punctuation marks on the keyboard.
Conclusion
So champs, it’s time to finish up! We’ve covered different types of keyboard symbols with names in a simple way. These symbols may look small, but they help you type clearly and correctly. I suggest you keep using them in emails, forms, and documents. Found this guide helpful? Share it with your friends and drop your questions in the comments below!
FAQs – Types of Symbols in Keyboard
Got questions about typing or using keyboard symbols? These beginner FAQs will clear your doubts quickly.
Hold the Shift key and press the symbol key together. For example, press Shift + 2 to type @. Some laptops may need the Fn key for extra symbols. Check your key labels carefully.
Most symbols are printed on the keys. Use Shift or AltGr with number or letter keys. For example, press Shift + ! for an exclamation mark. Some advanced symbols need Alt codes.
Common ones include @, #, $, &, *, and !. These are used in emails, passwords, and web links. Each key has a unique purpose in writing and computer use.
The keyboard has more symbols than keys. So, the Shift key helps you access the symbol on the upper part of a key. It works like a second layer on the keyboard.
Use Alt codes by pressing Alt + number code (on number pad). For example, Alt + 0169 gives ©. This method works on Windows PCs with numeric keypad.
Check if Caps Lock or Num Lock is active. Also, try restarting your laptop. If the symbol keys still don’t work, clean your keyboard or check for language settings.
Tap the ?123 key to switch to symbol view. Hold any symbol key to see more options. Most mobile keyboards also support emojis and special characters.
They help you write emails, code, fill forms, and create documents. Learning them saves time and improves your typing skills. It also helps you understand how each key works.
- Be Respectful
- Stay Relevant
- Stay Positive
- True Feedback
- Encourage Discussion
- Avoid Spamming
- No Fake News
- Don't Copy-Paste
- No Personal Attacks
- Be Respectful
- Stay Relevant
- Stay Positive
- True Feedback
- Encourage Discussion
- Avoid Spamming
- No Fake News
- Don't Copy-Paste
- No Personal Attacks
