SymbolHub

Middle Dot (·)

The middle dot · is Unicode U+00B7, the vertically centered dot used for word division, Catalan orthography, and list separation. Press Copy to put it on your clipboard, or type it with Alt + 0183 on Windows or Option + Shift + 9 on a Mac.

Unicode
U+00B7
HTML
·
Windows
Alt + 0183
Mac
Option + Shift + 9

How to type the middle dot (·)

The quickest way is to press Copy above and paste. To type · yourself, use the method for your device below. On Windows the alt code is Alt + 0183. On a Mac it is Option + Shift + 9.

Windows

  1. Hold Alt and type 0183 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. Num Lock must be on. This uses the Windows-1252 code page, so it works in almost every Windows app.
  2. Hold Alt and type 250 on the numeric keypad. This older code (from code page 437) works in Notepad, Word and most desktop apps.
  3. In Word or Outlook, type 00B7 and press Alt + X. Alt + X converts the hex code before the cursor into the character, and back again.
  4. Press Win + R, type charmap and press Enter. Tick “Advanced view”, search for Middle Dot, then Select and Copy. Character Map is built into every version of Windows.

Mac

  1. Press Option+Shift+9. On the standard US and US-International layouts.
  2. Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for middle dot and double-click it.

Linux & ChromeOS

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type b7, then press Enter or Space. Works in GTK and IBus apps (GNOME, Firefox, Chrome, LibreOffice) and on ChromeOS.
  2. Press your Compose key, then . -. Needs a Compose key set in your keyboard settings.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Copy · from this page, then go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement and add it with a shortcut such as ;midd. 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 00B7, then press Alt + X.
  2. Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Set “from” to Unicode (hex), type 00B7 in “Character code” and click Insert.
  3. On a Mac, Option+Shift+9 works in Word too.

Google Docs

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

Excel & Google Sheets

  1. Enter =UNICHAR(183) in a cell. It works in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.

HTML

  1. Write · or · in your HTML.

What does · mean?

The middle dot (·), formally known in classical typography as the interpunct or centered dot, is an ancient punctuation mark positioned vertically at the median height of lowercase letters. In epigraphic Latin inscriptions before the invention of the space bar, Romans carved interpuncts between words to separate running text. In modern typography, the middle dot serves crucial linguistic, mathematical, and aesthetic design roles across world writing systems.

Linguistically, the middle dot is indispensable in Catalan orthography, where it is called the punt volat (“flying point”). Placed between two lowercase L letters (l·l), it indicates a geminate consonant sound (an elongated L), preventing readers from pronouncing the letters as the palatalized double-L sound found in Spanish. The middle dot also appears in Chinese and Japanese translations to demarcate foreign names (e.g. ウィリアム・シェイクスピア for William Shakespeare) and in Greek script as the ano teleia semicolon. Compare its fine proportions with the heavier bullet point in our bullet point symbols guide and see related punctuation in punctuation symbols.

In digital design, web developers and art directors frequently employ the middle dot as a refined, minimalist inline divider for metadata lines beneath article titles (e.g. “Design · 5 min read · Oct 2026”). While often drafted informally as a multiplication dot in basic arithmetic, formal mathematics prefers the dedicated dot operator character. In phonetic dictionaries, it marks syllable boundaries without confusing readers who look for an apostrophe or an ellipsis.

Common uses

  • Catalan orthography distinguishing geminate consonants: “paral·lel”, “col·lecció”
  • Modern UI metadata dividers: “Published Oct 30 · By Sarah · 4 Comments”
  • Transliteration and foreign name division in Japanese katakana and Chinese script
  • Dictionary pronunciation syllable division: “in·ter·punct”

Middle Dot 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+00B7
HTML entity (named)·
HTML decimal·
HTML hex·
CSS contentcontent: "\B7";
JavaScript"\u00B7"
Python"\u00B7"
Python (by name)"\N{MIDDLE DOT}"
Java / C#"\u00B7"
LaTeX\cdot
UTF-8 bytesC2 B7
UTF-1600B7
URL encoded%C2%B7
Windows Alt codeAlt + 0183
Alt code (CP437)Alt + 250
Mac shortcutOption + Shift + 9

· 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
Bullet
U+2022		Bullet point (U+2022). Significantly darker and larger; intended for vertical itemized lists rather than inline word breaks.
Dot Operator
U+22C5		Dot operator (U+22C5). Specialized mathematical symbol with formula spacing for dot products and scalar math.
Hyphenation Point
U+2027		Hyphenation point (U+2027). A dedicated lexicographical character marking places where words may break at line ends.
Full Stop
U+002E		Full stop / period (U+002E). Baseline mark that terminates sentences and denotes decimal fractions.

Symbols similar to ·

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

· character properties

Official Unicode name
MIDDLE DOT
Also known as
interpunct, centered dot, middot, space dot, punt volat
Code point
U+00B7
Unicode block
Latin-1 Supplement (U+0080–U+00FF)
General category
Other punctuation (Po)
Added in
Unicode 1.1 (1993)
Plane
Basic Multilingual Plane (0)
Emoji
No, it is a text symbol

Frequently asked questions

What is the Catalan punt volat?

In Catalan, the punt volat (flying point) is a middle dot placed between two Ls (l·l). It tells the speaker to pronounce each L distinctly as a geminate double consonant, rather than merging them into the Spanish “ll” sound.

How do I type a middle dot on keyboard?

On Windows, hold Alt and type 0183 on the numeric keypad (or Alt + 250). On Mac, press Option + Shift + 9. In HTML, write the named entity · or the numeric code ·.

Can I use a middle dot for multiplication?

While · (U+00B7) is widely understood in casual typing, formal academic publishing uses the dedicated dot operator character ⋅ (U+22C5) or the multiplication sign × (U+00D7) for mathematical formulas.

What is the alt code for the middle dot?

On Windows, hold Alt and type 0183 on the numeric keypad to get ·. The shorter code Alt + 250 also works in most desktop apps. On a laptop without a keypad, copy it from this page or use 00B7 then Alt + X in Word.

How do I type the middle dot on a Mac?

Press Option + Shift + 9. It works in every app on the US keyboard layout. You can also open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space and search for it.

What is the HTML code for the middle dot?

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

What is the Unicode for the middle dot?

· is U+00B7, officially named MIDDLE DOT, in the Latin-1 Supplement block. It has been part of Unicode since version 1.1 (1993).