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∗

asterisk operator

Asterisk Operator

∗ is a mathematical star operator whose exact job—multiplication, convolution, or something custom—comes from the surrounding notation. Its shape belongs to an ancient editorial tradition, but ∗ is a separate character from the keyboard *.

Text symbol
Search it as
star · multiplication · convolution · wildcard · keypad · footnote · correction
Shows up in
Anything that takes text · its shape is whatever your font draws

What ∗ means

Its operation depends on the formula. It can mark multiplication, convolution, or a binary operation defined by the author.

The recognizable ancestor appears in the Hellenistic period, when Alexandrian scholars used a small star to flag difficult or repeated lines.

The asteriskos, obelus, and diple belonged to the same critical-sign system, not merely a set of similar shapes. The star later moved into notes and annotations; mathematics specialized ∗ as an operator.

Is ∗ the same as *?

No—similar shape, different character. The keyboard * is an ordinary asterisk; ∗ is its mathematical counterpart.

Fonts may make them look nearly identical, but mathematical layout can center and space ∗ differently. Use the exact character a formula or software specification requires.

Precise and technical; ∗ signals mathematical typesetting rather than casual punctuation.

Do not replace * with ∗ in code or wildcard syntax unless the software explicitly accepts it.

Don't confuse it with

1
*
Asterisk
The ordinary keyboard asterisk; it may differ from ∗ in meaning, spacing, and machine-readable text.

Questions people ask

1

Can I use ∗ as a wildcard?

Usually not. Instructions showing * mean that exact character unless the software says otherwise.

How to type ∗

Windows (Word)
Alt+XType 2217, then Alt+X to get ∗.
Windows
Win+Rrun charmap for the full table, or use the emoji picker's Ω symbols tab (Win + .).
macOS
Control+Command+SpaceOpen the character viewer and search “asterisk operator”.
Linux
Ctrl+Shift+UType 2217, then Enter or Space.
HTML
∗
CSS
\2217
Character picker
Search for “asterisk operator” and verify that the inserted character is ∗, not *.
Codes and encoding1 code points
HTML decimal
∗
HTML hex
∗
CSS content
content: "\2217";
Each escape is closed by the next backslash; a trailing space is needed before a literal hex digit.
URL encoded
%E2%88%97
1
On screen
1
Code points
1
JS .length
3
UTF-8 bytes

A visible symbol can contain several code points. JS .length counts UTF-16 units; UTF-8 counts bytes.

Families this belongs to

1

Maths & numbers1,835 symbols

1️⃣📏📐✖️➕➖➗🟰♾️#️⃣*️⃣0️⃣