How to type ─ on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+196.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 196 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The box drawings light horizontal symbol ─ appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "box drawings light horizontal". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find ─, click Select, then Copy.
How to type ─ on a Mac
There is no direct keyboard shortcut for ─ on a Mac.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "box drawings light horizontal" in the search box and double-click the result. It will be remembered under Frequently Used.
How to type ─ on iPhone and iPad
The iOS keyboard does not include ─, so the reliable way is to copy it from this page, then press and hold in any text field and tap Paste.
If you use it often, create a shortcut: open Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, paste ─ in the Phrase field and type a short code such as ;box in the Shortcut field. Typing that code will then insert ─ anywhere.
How to type ─ on Android
Copy the symbol from this page, then long-press in a text field and choose Paste. Gboard also keeps a clipboard history: tap the clipboard icon on the toolbar to paste it again later.
For a permanent shortcut, open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, add ─ as the word and a short code as the shortcut.
How to type ─ in Microsoft Word
- Type the Unicode hex code 2500 where you want the symbol.
- Press Alt+X. Word converts the code into ─.
This works on Windows in Word, Outlook and OneNote and needs no numeric keypad. You can also go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, set the font to a Unicode font and type 2500 in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(9472) returns the symbol.
How to type ─ in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "box drawings light horizontal" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(9472).
─ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ─ |
| HTML decimal | ─ |
| HTML hex | ─ |
CSS content | "\2500" |
| JavaScript | "\u2500" |
| Python | "\u2500" |
| URL encoded | %E2%94%80 |
Because ─ is a standard Unicode character (U+2500), you can also paste it directly into any UTF-8 file. The escaped forms above are only needed when the file encoding is uncertain or the symbol must be entered on a keyboard without it.
Where the box drawings light horizontal symbol is used
Common in ASCII/Unicode box drawing for terminal UIs, plain-text tables, and diagrams, such as a divider row like ─────── or a frame edge in a CLI menu. Often confused with the plain hyphen-minus (-) or em dash (—), but it connects seamlessly with other box-drawing characters.
Frequently asked questions
What is this character used for in programming? +
It's used to build text-based borders, tables, and box diagrams in terminals, code comments, or documentation, often combined with corner and junction characters.
Why does this line look different from a regular dash? +
It's part of the box-drawing block designed to align perfectly with other box characters, unlike a hyphen or dash, which have gaps or different widths.
What is the Alt code for the box drawings light horizontal symbol? +
The Alt code for ─ is Alt+196. Hold Alt, type 196 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
How do I type ─ on a Mac? +
There is no dedicated Mac shortcut for ─. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "box drawings light horizontal", and double-click it. Or copy it from this page.
How do I type the box drawings light horizontal symbol on iPhone or Android? +
Phone keyboards do not include ─ by default. Copy it from this page and paste it, or add it as a text replacement shortcut in Settings so you can type it with a short abbreviation.
What is the HTML code for ─? +
Use ─ in HTML. The numeric form ─ works too. In CSS use content: "\2500" and in JavaScript use "\u2500".