Set Minus Symbol

There is no legacy Windows Alt code for Set Minus because it is not in either the OEM code page 437 or Windows-1252 tables. The Unicode codepoint is U+2216, which you can use as ∖ in HTML, \2216 in CSS, or type with Alt+8726 on Windows (BMP only). If your keyboard has no numeric keypad, use the Character Viewer, the HTML entity, or copy the character directly. Set Minus is outside both legacy code pages, which is why U+2216 is the identifier that works across Word, HTML, CSS, Python and JavaScript. Set Minus has no named HTML entity, so use the numeric escape ∖ or the hex escape ∖.

Codes for this symbol

Copy any value by clicking it.
MethodValue
Alt + decimal
Alt + X hex
HTML decimal
HTML hex
CSS escape
Python escape
JavaScript escape
UTF-8 bytes
Unicode codepoint
Unicode block
Unicode category

Not available for this symbol: legacy Windows Alt code, macOS Option shortcut, named HTML entity.

How to type set minus on Windows

  1. Turn Num Lock on so the numeric keypad is active.
  2. Hold the left Alt key.
  3. Type 8 7 2 6 on the numeric keypad for the decimal codepoint 8726.
  4. Release Alt. The Set Minus character (∖) appears.

If your keyboard has no numeric keypad, see how to type symbols without a numpad.

How to type set minus on macOS

There is no direct Option shortcut for Set Minus. Open the Character Viewer with ⌃⌘Space, search for "Set Minus" and click the character to insert it.

How to use set minus in code

  • HTML: or
  • CSS: content:"\2216"; ()
  • Python: \u2216 or chr(0x2216)
  • JavaScript: \u2216 or String.fromCodePoint(0x2216)
  • JSON: "\u2216"

Frequently asked questions

Is there an Alt code for ∖?

No legacy Alt code exists for Set Minus because it is not in code page 437 or Windows-1252. Use the Unicode codepoint U+2216 in HTML, CSS or the Character Viewer instead.

How do I type ∖ without a numpad?

Use the Windows Character Viewer (Win+.), the macOS Character Viewer (⌃⌘Space), an HTML entity such as ∖, or copy the character directly from this page.

Why does Alt+8726 not work?

Alt+8726 only works on a keyboard with a physical numeric keypad. It also requires the application to accept the numeric-keypad input path. Laptops without a numpad need an alternative method.

What is the Unicode for Set Minus?

The Unicode codepoint for Set Minus is U+2216. You can use this value in HTML as ∖, in CSS as \2216, and in Word with Alt+X.

How do I type ∖ on a Mac?

Open the Character Viewer with ⌃⌘Space and search for the character name or U+2216, then click it.