X Squared Symbol
Pick a style — click to use & copy
Shortcodes
Quick reference codes for the ² Squared / X Squared Symbol.
| Unicode | U+00B2 |
| Alt Code | 0178 |
| HTML Code | ² |
| CSS Code | \00B2 |
| HTML Entity | ² |
| HEX Code | ² |
About the X Squared Symbol
The squared symbol (², U+00B2) is a superscript two indicating that a number or variable
is multiplied by itself: x² = x × x. It is one of the most
widely used mathematical notations in science, geometry, physics, and everyday measurement.
Area is always expressed in square units — square metres (m²), square centimetres
(cm²), square kilometres (km²), and square feet (ft²). In physics, Einstein’s
famous equation E = mc² features the squared symbol, as does the Pythagorean
theorem: a² + b² = c². The area of a circle is
πr². The square root (√, U+221A) is the inverse: √x² = x.
The Unicode character U+00B2 is a dedicated superscript glyph; in HTML you can also write
<sup>2</sup> after any base to create x2 inline. Use
² or ² to embed the symbol directly. On Windows hold Alt and type
0178 on the numpad; on Mac use the Unicode input method.
Customize Your Symbol
It’s everywhere — sprinkled throughout algebra homework, scientific equations, Google Docs equations and calculator inputs — but no one besides mathematicians really knows how to type the squared symbol without copy-pasting it straight from a search result. This guide walks you through every method, every shortcut, every Unicode point, and every real-world application for x², y², ², √x and just about any other math symbol on any device or platform. That you save once and continue to use it forever.
Instant Copyable Squared Symbols – Ready to copy and paste
No time to read? Pick it up here:
| Symbol | Name |
|---|---|
| x² | X Squared |
| y² | Y Squared |
| ² | Superscript Two |
| √x | Square Root |
| ∞ | Infinity |
| ∑ | Summation Symbol |
| ± | Plus Minus |
| α | Alpha |
| Φ | Phi |
| λ | Lambda |
| Δt | Delta T |
LaTeX (academic papers, scientific documents)
x^{2}→ x²\sqrt{x}→ √x\Sigma x^{2}→ Σx²
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Unicode for the square symbol?
The superscript two ² in question has unicode value U+00B2 🄒, The complete form x² consists of the letter x (U+0078) and a superscript two.
How can I type x squared on a Mac keyboard?
The quickest way is Option + V for the root (i.e. Control + Command + Space opens the Character Viewer, in which you just search “superscript two”). Otherwise copy ² directly from this page.
What is ² vs ^2 Maths?
They are two different math concepts — both representing squaring a number. However, the special character ² or superscript to indicate the second power (showing a number is in squared form) is what’s proper typographic. The ^2 caret notation is a plain-text shorthand commonly used in calculators, search engines, and programming where superscript formatting isn’t available.
How do I write x squared in Google Docs without Insert?
Write the number 2 after your variable and select only that 2 and hit Ctrl +. (Windows) or Cmd +. (Mac) — for quick superscript.
Is x² the same as 2x?
Nah — these are not the same at all. x² means x times x (x × x). This means, 2x = x * 2. So for example if x = 5: x² = 25, whereas 2x = 10.
Capital X² in Statistics and Science
Capital X² is an analysis tool that measures the degree of similarity between DNA sequences, which can be used to identify species within a population. In most cases, Capital X² appears in the chi-squared statistical test {displaystyle x^ {2}} (greekchii-squared; U+03C7 + 0x00b2 ). In some notation conventions, uppercase X² also refers to a matrix variable squared or is used for the specific random variable.
Can I Use ² in File Names or URLs?
Most common use of ² is in filenames on some specific OSs. You can write x2 or in file names because these are safer. For URLs, ² must be percent-encoded as %C2%B2. Ideal in regular text content on web pages, where the Unicode character does just fine.
Conclusion
What do you want to know About Square symbols: Access to the squared symbol — so instead of x², y²; 2 as the square number; or a «really related» sign such as an atom which is formed and expressed with root √x) — is technically much easier to use than almost everybody thinks. It is a lot quicker than using Alt + 0178 for ² (that takes seconds to do in Windows). On Mac, with the Character Viewer or just a copy-paste from some reference page like this one you setup: Done straight away. Superscript shortcut Ctrl +. in Google Docs is all you need. All the cases that HTML might require (U+00B2) for web developers: the ² character. Do what you have to do with the table at the top, keep your favorite input method handy, and never face a missing superscript again.