Asterisco Symbol
Pick a style — click to use & copy
Shortcodes
Quick reference codes for the * Asterisk / Asterisco Symbol.
| Unicode | U+002A |
| Alt Code | 42 |
| HTML Code | * |
| CSS Code | \002A |
| HTML Entity | * |
| HEX Code | * |
About the Asterisk Symbol
The asterisk (* , U+002A) — called asterisco in Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese — takes its name from the Greek asteriskos meaning “little star.” It is one of the most versatile symbols in written language: in typography it marks footnotes and annotations; in mathematics it denotes convolution, complex conjugation, or the Kleene star in formal language theory; in computing it is the wildcard character and the multiplication operator; in markdown and social media it wraps bold or italic text; and in passwords it masks characters. Unicode offers a rich family of decorative asterisks beyond the standard ASCII glyph — including the heavy asterisk ✱, the eight-spoked asterisk ✳, the sixteen-pointed asterisk ✺, the circled asterisk ⊛, and many pointed star variants. The low asterisk ⁎ (U+204E) sits on the baseline and is used in some linguistic notations. Use * or * in HTML. On any keyboard the asterisk is typed with Shift+8.
Customize Your Symbol
The asterisk is one of the most universally recognized symbols in writing, mathematics, programming, medicine, search engines, and digital communication. It is widely used for emphasis, important notes, corrections, required fields, multiplication, footnotes, and wildcard searches.
An asterisk normally appears like this:
People often search for asterisk symbol meaning, asterisk symbol copy paste, asterisk in Word, and asterisk in programming because it is commonly used in technical and everyday writing.
What Is the Asterisk Symbol?
An asterisk is a star-shaped symbol used in writing and computing.
Standard Asterisk Symbol
The word “asterisk” comes from a Greek word meaning:
“Little star”
Asterisk Symbol Copy Paste
Standard Asterisk
Decorative Asterisk Symbols
✱ ✲ ✳ ✴ ❋ ❊ ※
Cross Asterisk Symbols
✢ ✣ ✤ ✥
Asterisk Symbol Text
Simple Text Symbols
Stylish Asterisk Styles
✱ ✲ ✳ ✴
Decorative Text Examples
✳ Alert ✳
❋ Important ❋
✱ Needed ✱
Asterisk Symbol Meaning
The meaning of the asterisk depends on the context.
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Writing | Footnote/reference |
| Forms | Required field |
| Mathematics | Multiplication |
| Programming | Pointer/wildcard |
| Medicine | Important notes |
| Search | Wildcard character |
Asterisk Symbol Pronunciation
The word “asterisk” is pronounced:
“AS-tuh-risk”
Asterisk Symbol in Word
In Microsoft Word, you can easily type the asterisk.
Keyboard Method
Press:
Shift + 8
Result:
Common Word Uses
Used for:
- Footnotes
- Bullet styles
- Important notes
- References
- Text formatting
Asterisk Symbol in Mathematics
In mathematics, the asterisk often represents multiplication or special operations.
Multiplication Example
5 * 3 = 15
Mathematical Uses
| Symbol Use | Meaning |
|---|---|
| * | Multiplication |
| * | Convolution |
| * | Special operation |
Asterisk Symbol in Programming
The asterisk is heavily used in programming languages like C, Python, and JavaScript.
Pointer Example in C
int *ptr;
Multiplication Example in C
a = b * c;
Common Programming Uses
| Usage | Example |
|---|---|
| Multiplication | a * b |
| Pointer | *ptr |
| Wildcard | *.jpg |
| Comments | /* */ |
Asterisk Symbol on Keyboard
The asterisk key is generally found:
- Above the number 8
- On the numeric keypad
- In the mobile symbol keyboard
Phone Keyboard
On Android or iPhone:
- Open keyboard
- Tap symbols/numbers
- Find *
Asterisk Symbol Meaning in Hindi
In Hindi, the asterisk symbol is called:
- तारांकन चिन्ह
- स्टार चिन्ह
Meaning:
“Star symbol”
Red Asterisk Symbol
A red asterisk is commonly used in forms.
Example:
Name *
Meaning:
Required field
You often see this on websites and registration forms.
Cross Asterisk Symbol
Cross-style asterisk symbols:
- ✢
- ✣
- ✤
- ✥
Common uses:
- Design
- Logos
- Decorations
- Religious patterns
Five-Point Asterisk Symbol
Traditional five-point styles:
- ✱
- ✳
- ❋
Asterisk Symbol in Medical Field
In medical documents, asterisks may indicate:
- Important notes
- Warnings
- Special conditions
- Abnormal values
Example:
Patient requires monitoring*
Medical Research Usage
Scientific studies often use asterisks for statistical significance.
Example:
*p < 0.05
Meaning:
Statistically significant result
Asterisk Symbol in Search Engines
Search systems use asterisks as wildcard symbols.
Example:
photo*
Possible matches:
- photograph
- photography
- photos
Asterisk Symbol Unicode
| Symbol | Unicode |
|---|---|
| * | U+002A |
| ✱ | U+2731 |
| ✳ | U+2733 |
HTML Codes
Standard Asterisk
*
Decorative Asterisk HTML
✳
Result:
✳
Asterisk Symbol Font Styles
Decorative Fonts
✱ ✲ ✳ ✴ ❋
Bold Decorative Styles
✳ Important ✳
Asterisk Symbol in Different Fields
| Field | Usage |
|---|---|
| Writing | Footnotes |
| Mathematics | Multiplication |
| Programming | Wildcards/pointers |
| Medicine | Important notes |
| Forms | Required fields |
Asterisk vs Star Symbol
| Symbol | Name |
|---|---|
| * | Asterisk |
| ★ | Star |
Common Asterisk Examples
Writing Example
Read the note below*
Programming Example
result = a * b
Required Field Example
Email *
Importance of Asterisk Symbol
The asterisk is extremely important because it helps organize information clearly.
Main importance:
- Writing clarity
- Programming operations
- Mathematical notation
- Medical documentation
- Form validation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the asterisk symbol?
The asterisk symbol is:
What does the asterisk mean?
Depending on the context, it can mean multiplication, footnotes, required fields, or wildcard searches.
How do you type an asterisk?
Press:
Shift + 8
What is the asterisk used for in Word?
Mainly for footnotes and references.
What is the asterisk symbol in math?
It often represents multiplication.
What is the asterisk symbol in C programming?
It is used for pointers and multiplication.
What does a red asterisk mean?
It usually indicates a required form field.
What does the asterisk mean in medicine?
It often marks important notes or abnormal values.
Conclusion
The asterisk symbol is one of the most versatile symbols used in writing, mathematics, programming, medicine, and digital systems. Whether it represents multiplication, mandatory form fields, footnotes, search wildcards, or programming pointers, the asterisk remains an essential symbol across many industries and technologies.
From Word formatting and coding to medical research and online forms, understanding the asterisk symbol helps improve communication, organization, and technical writing everywhere.