SymbolHub

Intersection Symbol (∩)

The intersection symbol ∩ is Unicode U+2229, the cap sign for set intersection. Press Copy to put it on your clipboard, or type it with Alt + 239 on Windows.

Unicode
U+2229
HTML
∩
Windows
Alt + 239

How to type the intersection symbol (∩)

The quickest way is to press Copy above and paste. To type ∩ yourself, use the method for your device below.

Windows

  1. Hold Alt and type 239 on the numeric keypad. This older code (from code page 437) works in Notepad, Word and most desktop apps.
  2. In Word or Outlook, type 2229 and press Alt + X. Alt + X converts the hex code before the cursor into the character, and back again.
  3. Press Win + R, type charmap and press Enter. Tick “Advanced view”, search for Intersection, then Select and Copy. Character Map is built into every version of Windows.

Mac

  1. Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for intersection and double-click it.
  2. With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), hold Option and type 2229.

Linux & ChromeOS

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 2229, then press Enter or Space. Works in GTK and IBus apps (GNOME, Firefox, Chrome, LibreOffice) and on ChromeOS.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Copy ∩ from this page, then go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement and add it with a shortcut such as ;inte. The shortcut then turns into the symbol as you type, in every app.

Android

  1. Copy ∩ here, then open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary and add it with a shortcut.

Microsoft Word

  1. Type 2229, then press Alt + X.
  2. Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Set “from” to Unicode (hex), type 2229 in “Character code” and click Insert.

Google Docs

  1. Insert → Special characters, then search for “intersection” or draw it in the box.

Excel & Google Sheets

  1. Enter =UNICHAR(8745) in a cell. It works in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.

HTML

  1. Write ∩ or ∩ in your HTML.

What does ∩ mean?

∩ gives the intersection of two sets, the elements they share: {1, 2, 3} ∩ {2, 3, 4} = {2, 3}. On a Venn diagram it is the overlapping lens. Its partner ∪ is the union, and a simple memory aid is that ∩ looks like a cap sitting over the overlap. If two sets have nothing in common, their intersection is the empty set ∅, and the sets are called disjoint.

Common uses

  • Set theory and probability: P(A ∩ B)
  • Venn diagrams and database joins explained in notes

Intersection Symbol codes for HTML, CSS and programming

Every code below produces ∩. Use the HTML entity in web pages, the CSS escape in content, and the escape sequence in source code.

Unicode code pointU+2229
HTML entity (named)∩
HTML decimal∩
HTML hex∩
CSS contentcontent: "\2229";
JavaScript"\u2229"
Python"\u2229"
Python (by name)"\N{INTERSECTION}"
Java / C#"\u2229"
LaTeX\cap
UTF-8 bytesE2 88 A9
UTF-162229
URL encoded%E2%88%A9
Alt code (CP437)Alt + 239

∩ vs look-alike characters

These characters look similar to ∩ but have a different meaning and code. Pasting the wrong one can break search, sorting and screen readers.

CharNameWhen to use it
Union
U+222A		Union.
N
U+006E		Lowercase n, often typed as a makeshift ∩.
N-Ary Intersection
U+22C2		N-ary intersection, the large operator form.

Symbols similar to ∩

Click to copy, or open a symbol for its codes. See the full math symbols collection.

∩ character properties

Official Unicode name
INTERSECTION
Also known as
cap, intersect, set intersection
Code point
U+2229
Unicode block
Mathematical Operators (U+2200–U+22FF)
General category
Math symbol (Sm)
Added in
Unicode 1.1 (1993)
Plane
Basic Multilingual Plane (0)
Emoji
No, it is a text symbol

Frequently asked questions

What does P(A ∩ B) mean?

The probability that both A and B happen.

What is the alt code for the intersection symbol?

On Windows, hold Alt and type 239 on the numeric keypad to get ∩. On a laptop without a keypad, copy it from this page or use 2229 then Alt + X in Word.

How do I type the intersection symbol on a Mac?

There is no single Option shortcut for ∩ on the US layout. Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for “intersection” and double-click it, or copy it from this page.

What is the HTML code for the intersection symbol?

Use the named entity ∩ or the numeric reference ∩ (hex ∩). All three display ∩ in every browser.

What is the Unicode for the intersection symbol?

∩ is U+2229, officially named INTERSECTION, in the Mathematical Operators block. It has been part of Unicode since version 1.1 (1993).