Set Minus
U+2216Mathematical Operators
Also known as set difference
Copy and paste ∖. The Set Minus character has Unicode code point U+2216 and decimal HTML code ∖.
Symbol codes
- Unicode
U+2216- HTML Code
∖- CSS Code
\2216- HTML Entity
∖- HEX Code
∖
Technical properties
Unicode 18.0.0
- Code point
- U+2216
- Decimal
- 8726
- Unicode name
- SET MINUS
- Block
- Mathematical Operators · U+2200–U+22FF
- General category
- Math Symbol (Sm)
- Script
- Common
- Introduced
- Unicode 1.1
- JavaScript
- "\u2216"
Appears in
About Set Minus
∖ is encoded in Unicode as code point U+2216 (decimal 8726). Its official Unicode name is SET MINUS.
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 Set Minus
- Any device
- Select Copy symbol, then paste with Ctrl+V, or ⌘+V on a Mac.
- Microsoft Word
- Type
2216, then press Alt+X. - macOS Character Viewer
- Press Control+⌘+Space and search for “set minus”.
- Linux (GTK and IBus)
- Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type
2216, then press Space. - HTML
∖or∖. In a UTF-8 page you can also paste the character itself.- CSS
content: "\2216";in a::beforeor::afterrule.- JavaScript
"\u2216"
Common questions about Set Minus
What is the Set Minus symbol?
∖ (Set Minus) is a math symbol in Unicode’s Mathematical Operators block. Its code point is U+2216, and it has been part of the standard since Unicode 1.1 (1993). It is also known as set difference.
How do I copy and paste the Set Minus 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 Set Minus symbol on Windows?
In Microsoft Word, type 2216 and press Alt+X to turn the code into ∖. In any app, open Character Map from the Start menu, search for “set minus”, then select and copy the character.
How do I type the Set Minus symbol on a Mac?
Press Control+⌘+Space to open the Character Viewer, search for “set minus”, and double-click the result to insert it.
How do I type the Set Minus 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 Set Minus 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 “set minus”. In Word, choose Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, set from to Unicode (hex), and enter 2216 as the character code.
Is the Set Minus 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 Set Minus 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 Set Minus symbol?
In HTML, write ∖ (decimal) or ∖ (hexadecimal), or the named entity ∖. In CSS, use content: "\2216"; in a ::before or ::after rule, and in JavaScript "\u2216". See all HTML codes.