Subset Symbol (⊂)

The subset symbol ⊂ is Unicode U+2282, meaning “is a subset of”. Press Copy to put it on your clipboard.

Unicode: U+2282
HTML: ⊂
Word: 2282 Alt+X

How to type the subset 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 2282 and press Alt + X. Alt + X converts the hex code before the cursor into the character, and back again.
Press Win + R, type charmap and press Enter. Tick “Advanced view”, search for Subset of, then Select and Copy. Character Map is built into every version of Windows.

Mac

Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for subset and double-click it.
With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), hold Option and type 2282.

Linux & ChromeOS

Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 2282, then press Enter or Space. Works in GTK and IBus apps (GNOME, Firefox, Chrome, LibreOffice) and on ChromeOS.

iPhone & iPad

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

Android

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

Microsoft Word

Type 2282, then press Alt + X.
Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Set “from” to Unicode (hex), type 2282 in “Character code” and click Insert.

Google Docs

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

Excel & Google Sheets

Enter =UNICHAR(8834) in a cell. It works in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.

HTML

Write ⊂ or ⊂ in your HTML.

What does ⊂ mean?

⊂ says that every element of one set is also in another: {1, 2} ⊂ {1, 2, 3}. Be aware that authors disagree on a detail. Some use ⊂ for any subset and ⊊ for a proper one (strictly smaller); others use ⊂ for proper subsets and ⊆ when the two sets may be equal. Check which convention your textbook follows, or use ⊆ and ⊊, which are unambiguous. The mirror ⊃ reads “is a superset of”.

Common uses

Number sets: ℕ ⊂ ℤ ⊂ ℝ
Proofs about sets and events

Subset 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.

Codes for ⊂
Unicode code point	`U+2282`
HTML entity (named)	`⊂`
HTML decimal	`⊂`
HTML hex	`⊂`
CSS content	`content: "\2282";`
JavaScript	`"\u2282"`
Python	`"\u2282"`
Python (by name)	`"\N{SUBSET OF}"`
Java / C#	`"\u2282"`
LaTeX	`\subset`
UTF-8 bytes	`E2 8A 82`
UTF-16	`2282`
URL encoded	`%E2%8A%82`

⊂ 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
	Subset of Or Equal to `U+2286`	Subset of or equal to.
	Subset of with Not Equal to `U+228A`	Subset of with not equal to (a proper subset).
	Element of `U+2208`	Element of, which relates a single element to a set.
	Less-Than `U+003C`	Less-than, an order relation on numbers.

Symbols similar to ⊂

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

⊂ character properties

Official Unicode name: SUBSET OF
Also known as: subset of, contained in, proper subset
Code point: U+2282
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

Is every set a subset of itself?

Yes: A ⊆ A is always true. It is only a proper subset (A ⊊ A) that is impossible.

Is there an alt code for the subset 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 2282 then Alt + X in Word, or find it in Character Map.

How do I type the subset 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 “subset” and double-click it, or copy it from this page.

What is the HTML code for the subset symbol?

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

What is the Unicode for the subset symbol?

⊂ is U+2282, officially named SUBSET OF, in the Mathematical Operators block. It has been part of Unicode since version 1.1 (1993).