Union Symbol (∪)

The union symbol ∪ is Unicode U+222A, the cup sign for set union. Press Copy to put it on your clipboard.

Unicode: U+222A
HTML: ∪
Word: 222A Alt+X

How to type the union 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 222A 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 Union, 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 union and double-click it.
With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), hold Option and type 222A.

Linux & ChromeOS

Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 222a, 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 ;unio. 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 222A, then press Alt + X.
Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Set “from” to Unicode (hex), type 222A in “Character code” and click Insert.

Google Docs

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

Excel & Google Sheets

Enter =UNICHAR(8746) in a cell. It works in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.

HTML

Write ∪ or ∪ in your HTML.

What does ∪ mean?

∪ gives the union of sets, everything in either of them: {1, 2} ∪ {2, 5} = {1, 2, 5}. Elements that appear in both are listed only once. It looks like a cup that collects everything, the opposite of the intersection cap ∩. In probability, P(A ∪ B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A ∩ B), the inclusion–exclusion rule that stops shared outcomes being counted twice.

Common uses

Set theory: A ∪ B
Intervals: (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, ∞) for “every number except 0”

Union 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+222A`
HTML entity (named)	`∪`
HTML decimal	`∪`
HTML hex	`∪`
CSS content	`content: "\222A";`
JavaScript	`"\u222A"`
Python	`"\u222A"`
Python (by name)	`"\N{UNION}"`
Java / C#	`"\u222A"`
LaTeX	`\cup`
UTF-8 bytes	`E2 88 AA`
UTF-16	`222A`
URL encoded	`%E2%88%AA`

∪ 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
	Capital U `U+0055`	Capital U, sometimes typed in place of ∪.
	Intersection `U+2229`	Intersection.
	Square Cup `U+2294`	Square cup, the disjoint union in some texts.

Symbols similar to ∪

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

∪ character properties

Official Unicode name: UNION
Also known as: cup, set union, union of sets
Code point: U+222A
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 is the difference between ∪ and ∩?

∪ (union) includes elements in either set; ∩ (intersection) includes only elements in both.

Is there an alt code for the union 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 222A then Alt + X in Word, or find it in Character Map.

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

What is the HTML code for the union symbol?

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

What is the Unicode for the union symbol?

∪ is U+222A, officially named UNION, in the Mathematical Operators block. It has been part of Unicode since version 1.1 (1993).