XOR Symbol
About XOR Symbol
⊻ is the XOR symbol (exclusive OR symbol), with its Unicode official name being exactly XOR. It is a dedicated symbol for representing the exclusive OR logical operation—"same is false, different is true." When searching for how to type the XOR symbol, ⊻ is another standard option alongside ⊕.
The ⊻ symbol consists of two intersecting horizontal lines, resembling a simplified logic gate symbol. As a Unicode character directly named XOR, the ⊻ XOR symbol is especially common in Boolean algebra, mathematical logic, and formal proofs.
【Difference from ⊕】 ⊕ (U+2295) is called the circled plus sign and is more frequently used in mathematics and cryptography; ⊻ (U+22BB), on the other hand, is a purely logical XOR symbol and is more formal in logic and Boolean algebra. Both have identical functionality—the choice depends on the conventions of the specific discipline.
【Modern Applications】 ⊻ is used in logic circuit design documentation, Boolean algebra expressions, discrete mathematics textbooks, formal specification documents, and academic papers and technical documents where XOR operations need to be clearly distinguished from other logical operations.
How to Type XOR Symbol
Windows Input
Method 1: Hold Alt and type 8891 on the numeric keypad; Method 2: Type yihuo (pinyin for XOR) in the input method and look for ⊻ in the candidate list.
Mac Input
Method 1: Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer and search for "XOR"; Method 2: Type yihuo in the input method and select ⊻.
HTML/CSS Input
HTML: ⊻ or ⊻; CSS: content: "\22BB";
LaTeX Input
Use the \veebar command in math mode (requires the amssymb package); \barwedge is also supported in some distributions.
XOR Symbol FAQ
What is the difference between the XOR symbol ⊻ and ⊕?
⊻ (U+22BB) is the Unicode character explicitly named XOR, more focused on logic and Boolean algebra; ⊕ (U+2295) is called the circled plus sign and is more common in mathematics and cryptography. Both have identical truth tables—"same is false, different is true"—and which one to use depends on the conventions of your field.
What is the programming equivalent of the ⊻ symbol?
The ⊻ XOR symbol is typically represented by the ^ operator in programming languages (C, Java, Python, JavaScript, etc.). The ^ operator is the bitwise XOR operator that operates on binary bits. While most languages do not directly support the ⊻ character, they all provide the ^ operator to implement XOR functionality.
Why is the ⊻ XOR symbol less commonly seen?
The ⊻ symbol is less common for two main reasons: ① It was added to Unicode later than many other mathematical symbols and has less font support than ⊕; ② Most programming languages and software default to ^ or ⊕ for XOR, with ⊻ appearing mostly in specialized logic literature. Some devices may not render it properly.
How do I insert the ⊻ symbol in a Word document?
To insert the ⊻ XOR symbol in Word: ① Go to 'Insert' → 'Symbol' → 'More Symbols', select 'Mathematical Operators' in the subset and find ⊻; ② Type 22BB and press Alt+X to convert; ③ Simply copy and paste ⊻ is the most straightforward method.
What is the truth table for the XOR symbol ⊻?
The truth table for the ⊻ XOR symbol is: 0⊻0=0 (same is false), 0⊻1=1 (different is true), 1⊻0=1 (different is true), 1⊻1=0 (same is false). This is the core rule of XOR operation and the basis for the widespread use of ⊻ in digital circuits and cryptography.