Cross Symbol (✝)
The cross symbol ✝ is Unicode U+271D, the Latin cross, the main symbol of Christianity. Press Copy to put it on your clipboard.
- Unicode
U+271D- HTML
✝- Word
271D Alt+X
How to type the cross symbol (✝)
The quickest way is to press Copy above and paste. To type ✝ yourself, use the method for your device below.
Windows
- In Word or Outlook, type 271D and press Alt + X. Alt + X converts the hex code before the cursor into the character, and back again.
- Press Win + . to open the emoji panel, then search for “cross”.
Mac
- Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for cross and double-click it.
- With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), hold Option and type 271D.
Linux & ChromeOS
- Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 271d, then press Enter or Space. Works in GTK and IBus apps (GNOME, Firefox, Chrome, LibreOffice) and on ChromeOS.
iPhone & iPad
- Open the emoji keyboard and search for “cross” to insert ✝️, the colour emoji. For the plain text ✝, copy it from this page.
- Copy ✝ from this page, then go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement and add it with a shortcut such as ;lati. The shortcut then turns into the symbol as you type, in every app.
Android
- In Gboard, tap the emoji key and search for “cross” to insert ✝️. For the plain text ✝, copy it from this page.
- Copy ✝ here, then open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary and add it with a shortcut.
Microsoft Word
- Type 271D, then press Alt + X.
- Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Set “from” to Unicode (hex), type 271D in “Character code” and click Insert.
Google Docs
- Insert → Special characters, then search for “cross” or draw it in the box.
Excel & Google Sheets
- Enter
=UNICHAR(10013)in a cell. It works in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.
HTML
- Write
✝or✝in your HTML.
What does ✝ mean?
✝ is the Latin cross: a vertical bar crossed above its middle by a shorter horizontal bar. It is the most widely used symbol of Christianity, recalling the crucifixion of Jesus. In print it marks churches on maps, appears in religious texts and can indicate a person’s faith in a profile.
Unicode encodes many crosses with different traditions behind them. The Orthodox cross ☦ has three bars, the Maltese cross ✠ has four arrowhead arms and belongs to the Knights Hospitaller, and the heavy Greek cross ✚ with equal arms is also used as a first-aid or “add” sign. The dagger †, which looks like a small cross, is a typographic mark for footnotes and, in genealogy, a date of death.
Common uses
- Religious writing, church newsletters and prayer lists
- Names and bios that express Christian faith
- Marking a place of worship in a text map or listing
Cross 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 point | U+271D | |
|---|---|---|
| HTML decimal | ✝ | |
| HTML hex | ✝ | |
| CSS content | content: "\271D"; | |
| JavaScript | "\u271D" | |
| Python | "\u271D" | |
| Python (by name) | "\N{LATIN CROSS}" | |
| Java / C# | "\u271D" | |
| UTF-8 bytes | E2 9C 9D | |
| UTF-16 | 271D | |
| URL encoded | %E2%9C%9D |
✝ 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.
| Char | Name | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
DaggerU+2020 | Dagger, a punctuation mark for footnotes and “died” (Ann Smith † 1902). Not a religious sign in typography. | |
Shadowed White Latin CrossU+271E | Shadowed white Latin cross, a decorative outlined version. | |
Orthodox CrossU+2626 | Orthodox cross, with an extra top bar and a slanted foot bar. | |
Heavy Greek CrossU+271A | Heavy Greek cross with equal arms, often used for first aid or as a plus. | |
Latin crossU+271D U+FE0F | The emoji form, which shows in colour on phones. |
Symbols similar to ✝
Click to copy, or open a symbol for its codes. See the full religious symbols collection.
✝ character properties
- Official Unicode name
- LATIN CROSS
- Also known as
- latin cross, christian cross, crucifix symbol
- Code point
- U+271D
- Unicode block
- Dingbats (U+2700–U+27BF)
- General category
- Other symbol (So)
- Added in
- Unicode 1.1 (1993)
- Plane
- Basic Multilingual Plane (0)
- Emoji
- Has an emoji form: ✝️ (add U+FE0F)
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ✝ and †?
✝ (U+271D) is the Latin cross used as a Christian symbol. † (U+2020) is the dagger, a typographic mark for footnotes and death dates. They look alike but mean different things.
What does a cross next to a name mean?
In obituaries, genealogy and reference books, a dagger † or cross next to a name or date usually means the person has died, as in † 1998.
Is there an alt code for the cross symbol?
No. ✝ is outside the Windows-1252 and code page 437 character sets, so no Alt + number code produces it. Copy it from this page, type 271D then Alt + X in Word, or find it in Character Map.
How do I type the cross 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 “cross” and double-click it, or copy it from this page.
What is the HTML code for the cross symbol?
✝ has no named HTML entity. Use the numeric reference ✝ or ✝, or paste the character directly into a UTF-8 page.
What is the Unicode for the cross symbol?
✝ is U+271D, officially named LATIN CROSS, in the Dingbats block. It has been part of Unicode since version 1.1 (1993).