Keyboard Dot Symbol: How to Type, Copy, and Use Dot Symbols
A comprehensive guide to the keyboard dot symbol covering available Unicode variants, Windows Alt codes, Mac shortcuts, HTML entities, and copy-paste methods for any platform.
Typographers call the dot symbol (•) a bullet, which is used in lists or to indicate an item. While it’s also called an index, its historical purpose was similar.
In technical writing and reference works, dots are used to introduce items within a list, making each element easier to read.
There are dozens of dot symbols you can copy, paste, and use; these include filled, open, circled, and operator forms.
You can type dot symbols on your Windows keyboard using Alt code shortcuts. If you’re using macOS, you can also do so with a key combination. Alternatively, you can just copy and paste any symbol you want from the web.
However, screen readers don’t always handle typographical symbols consistently, creating accessibility barriers. You should be aware that some people may not understand what you mean by using a dot symbol, even if it’s perfectly fine to use for presentation purposes.
Dot symbol
A dot symbol is a typographical symbol or glyph used to introduce items in a list. Historically, it was used as an index symbol, much like how we might number our points today. Today, it is often used in notes, presentations, or technical writing to separate elements of content. Dots can also appear in reference works to distinguish individual words or parts of a compound word. The dot is one of many typographical symbols that you’ll see used in writing and other media.
You can find 64 dot text symbols available to copy and paste, including the following:
Bullet Operator ∙ U+2219
Bullet • U+2022
Black Circle ● U+25CF
Open Circle ◎ U+25CE
White Circle ○ U+25CB
White Bullet ◦ U+25E6
Circled Bullet ⦿ U+29BF
Circled White Bullet ⦾ U+29BE
Circled Dot Operator ⊙ U+2299
Filled, open, circled, and operator forms
How to type a dot symbol
If you’re looking for how to type a dot symbol on Windows, there are several ways, depending on what device you have.
For desktops
On a desktop, you can press the Alt key, then type the corresponding number (known as the ASCII table value) using your numeric keypad. This works on most laptops running MS Windows too. Here are some common combinations:
ALT + 7 → •
ALT + 8 → ◘
ALT + 9 → ○
Alternatively, you can access all the Unicode values for the 64 dot text symbols, and simply choose and copy whichever symbol you prefer.
MacOS users
You can also create a dot symbol using a combination of keys. Specifically, press and hold Alt, then press 8. Keep in mind this only works if you’re using the English layout. Otherwise, the Alt + 8 combination might be different.
HTML entities
You can generate HTML code that displays a dot symbol anywhere on the web, by typing •. You can also generate a character entity using the decimal value of the Unicode character:•. For example, you could write “We’ve got a few things on our agenda: • Item 1, • Item 2, and • Item 3.” Or, you can add the entity directly into your HTML source code.
Alternatively, one source provides a customizable tool for generating ready-to-use HTML code. Just select the desired symbol and customize options such as font size, text color, background color, and border radius and padding to match your needs.
How to copy and paste dot symbols
Some tools allow you to generate custom HTML code for web use
When it comes to copying and pasting a dot symbol, you don’t need to worry about formatting or where you’ll use it. Simply click on the symbol and copy it to your clipboard. Then paste it wherever you want — whether that’s on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or a Microsoft Word document.