Caret Symbol
Copy the caret symbol (^) and find its Alt code, Unicode value, and what it means in math, code, and regex.
The caret symbol is ^ (U+005E).
Use the Caret Symbol
Caret Symbol
Click the symbol to copy it
Formats
Character
^
Unicode
U+005E
HTML decimal
^
HTML hex
^
CSS escape
\005E
URL encoded
%5E
Click any row to copy that exact string.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| System / layout | Shortcut | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows (Alt code) | Hold Alt, type 94 on the numeric keypad. | |
| Windows (Unicode) | Same result using the 4-digit code. | |
| US / UK keyboard | Standard shifted key above the 6 on these layouts. | |
| German / French / Spanish / Italian keyboard | ^ is a dead key here; press it then Space for a standalone caret instead of an accented letter. | |
| Linux (GTK) | Type the hex code, then press Enter or Space. | |
| Microsoft Word | Type 005E then press Alt+X to convert it. |
Try it: exponent and XOR calculator
Enter two numbers to see how ^ is read in math notation versus as a bitwise operator in code.
2^8
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Quick answer
The caret symbol is ^ (U+005E). On a US or UK keyboard press Shift + 6, or click the caret on this page to copy it. In Excel 2^8 means 2 to the power 8, which is 256, but in JavaScript, C and Python 2 ^ 8 is bitwise XOR and gives 10.
Examples
| Where | How to type ^ |
|---|---|
| US or UK keyboard | Shift + 6 |
| German or French keyboard | ^, then Space |
| Windows Alt code | Alt + 94 |
| Word | Type 005E, then press Alt + X |
| HTML | ^ or ^ |
| LaTeX text | \textasciicircum |
Click ^ to copy it.
Summary
Copy the caret symbol (^) and find its Alt code, Unicode value, and what it means in math, code, and regex.
How it works
- Click the large caret to copy the plain ^ character to your clipboard.
- Or click any row in the Formats list to copy that exact encoded form (Unicode, HTML decimal, URL encoding).
- Switch to the Fullwidth tab to copy the wide CJK-width variant instead.
- Check the keyboard shortcut table for your OS and keyboard layout — on several European layouts ^ is a dead key.
- Use the exponent and XOR calculator to see how ^ is interpreted differently across math notation and code.
Use cases
- Write an exponent like 2^8 in a spreadsheet formula or plain-text math.
- Insert a caret into a regex pattern as a line-start anchor or to negate a character class.
- Copy a bitwise XOR operator when documenting code that uses ^ (JavaScript, C, Java, Python).
- Type a standalone caret on a German, French, Spanish, or Portuguese keyboard where ^ is a dead key.
- Reference the Alt code for pasting into software that blocks copy-paste.
- Copy the fullwidth caret (＾) for CJK typesetting alongside wide characters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: 2026-09-09 · Reviewed by Nham Vu