Empty Set
U+2205Mathematical Operators
Also known as null setempty set symbol
Copy and paste ∅. The Empty Set character has Unicode code point U+2205 and decimal HTML code ∅.
Symbol codes
- Unicode
U+2205- HTML Code
∅- CSS Code
\2205- HTML Entity
∅- HEX Code
∅
Technical properties
Unicode 18.0.0
- Code point
- U+2205
- Decimal
- 8709
- Unicode name
- EMPTY SET
- Block
- Mathematical Operators · U+2200–U+22FF
- General category
- Math Symbol (Sm)
- Script
- Common
- Introduced
- Unicode 1.1
- JavaScript
- "\u2205"
Appears in
About Empty Set
∅ is encoded in Unicode as code point U+2205 (decimal 8709). Its official Unicode name is EMPTY SET.
It belongs to the Mathematical Operators block (U+2200–U+22FF), its General Category is Math Symbol (Sm), and it was added in Unicode 1.1, released in 1993. Its script value is Common: it is shared across writing systems rather than belonging to one.
Sources: Unicode Character Database 18.0.0, the HTML Standard’s list of named character references, and Unicode’s code page mappings.
How to type or insert Empty Set
- Any device
- Select Copy symbol, then paste with Ctrl+V, or ⌘+V on a Mac.
- Microsoft Word
- Type
2205, then press Alt+X. - macOS Character Viewer
- Press Control+⌘+Space and search for “empty set”.
- Linux (GTK and IBus)
- Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type
2205, then press Space. - HTML
∅or∅. In a UTF-8 page you can also paste the character itself.- CSS
content: "\2205";in a::beforeor::afterrule.- JavaScript
"\u2205"
Common questions about Empty Set
What is the Empty Set symbol?
∅ (Empty Set) is a math symbol in Unicode’s Mathematical Operators block. Its code point is U+2205, and it has been part of the standard since Unicode 1.1 (1993). It is also known as null set and empty set symbol.
How do I copy and paste the Empty Set symbol?
Select Copy symbol at the top of this page, then paste with Ctrl+V on Windows and Linux or ⌘+V on a Mac. On a phone, tap Copy symbol, then touch and hold where you want it and choose Paste. ∅ pastes as ordinary text, so it works in documents, messages, and code.
How do I type the Empty Set symbol on Windows?
In Microsoft Word, type 2205 and press Alt+X to turn the code into ∅. In any app, open Character Map from the Start menu, search for “empty set”, then select and copy the character.
How do I type the Empty Set symbol on a Mac?
Press Control+⌘+Space to open the Character Viewer, search for “empty set”, and double-click the result to insert it.
How do I type the Empty Set symbol on an iPhone or Android phone?
The simplest way is to copy it from this page and paste it where you need it. If you use it often, save it as a text shortcut: on iPhone, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement; with Gboard on Android, go to Gboard settings > Dictionary > Personal dictionary.
Can I use the Empty Set symbol in Word, Google Docs, and social media?
Yes. ∅ is a standard Unicode character, so you can paste it into Microsoft Word, Google Docs, emails, and posts or bios on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok. In Google Docs you can also choose Insert > Special characters and search for “empty set”. In Word, choose Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, set from to Unicode (hex), and enter 2205 as the character code.
Is the Empty Set symbol an emoji?
No. ∅ is a text symbol, not an emoji. It takes the color and size of the surrounding text, and its exact shape depends on the font.
Why does the Empty Set symbol show as a box or question mark?
An empty box or a question mark means the font on that device has no glyph for ∅. The character is still there: it appears correctly wherever a font covers Unicode’s Mathematical Operators block, and free font families such as Google Noto cover nearly all of Unicode.
What are the HTML and CSS codes for the Empty Set symbol?
In HTML, write ∅ (decimal) or ∅ (hexadecimal), or the named entity ∅. In CSS, use content: "\2205"; in a ::before or ::after rule, and in JavaScript "\u2205". See all HTML codes.