How to type ∞ on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+236.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 236 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The infinity symbol ∞ appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "infinity". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find ∞, click Select, then Copy.
How to type ∞ on a Mac
Press Option+5 on the US keyboard layout. Hold the modifier keys and tap the final key once.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "infinity" 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 ;infinity 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 221E 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 221E in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(8734) returns the symbol.
How to type ∞ in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "infinity" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(8734).
∞ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ∞ |
| HTML decimal | ∞ |
| HTML hex | ∞ |
CSS content | "\221E" |
| JavaScript | "\u221E" |
| Python | "\u221E" |
| LaTeX | \infty |
| URL encoded | %E2%88%9E |
Because ∞ is a standard Unicode character (U+221E), 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 infinity symbol is used
In math, it marks limits and unbounded sets, as in "x → ∞" or "∑ from n=1 to ∞". Outside math, it appears in jewelry, tattoos, and logos to suggest eternity, as in "Love you to ∞". It is sometimes confused with the number 8 rotated sideways, though the two are unrelated.
Frequently asked questions
What does the infinity symbol mean? +
It represents something without limit or end, used in math for unbounded values and in general use for endlessness, such as eternal love or infinite possibility.
Who invented the infinity symbol? +
English mathematician John Wallis introduced the ∞ symbol in 1655 to represent an infinite quantity in his work on mathematics.
What is the Alt code for the infinity symbol? +
The Alt code for ∞ is Alt+236. Hold Alt, type 236 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
How do I type ∞ on a Mac? +
Press Option+5 on a Mac with the US keyboard layout. You can also open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space and search for "infinity".
How do I type the infinity 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: "\221E" and in JavaScript use "\u221E".