Dollar Sign
About Dollar Sign
$ is called the "Dollar Sign", the most recognized currency symbol globally, widely used to denote the US Dollar and various other currencies. The currency code for the US Dollar is USD.
The dollar sign also plays an important role in computer programming, having special uses in regular expressions, PHP variables, and shell scripts.
【Origin and Evolution】The most common explanation for the dollar sign $ is that it originated from the abbreviation for the Spanish Peso. In early writing, "PS" was superimposed, with the vertical line of the P crossing the S. Through long-term simplification and evolution, it finally formed the current "$" form with one vertical line through the S. After the United States officially adopted the Dollar as its currency unit in 1785, this symbol became the mark of the Dollar.
【Global Impact】Besides the US, over 30 countries and regions, including Canada, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil, also use $ as their currency symbol, usually adding a prefix to distinguish them, like C$ for Canadian Dollar and A$ for Australian Dollar. In non-currency fields, $ is also widely used in programming languages (like PHP variables, jQuery selectors), making it one of the most active symbols in the digital age.
How to Type Dollar Sign
Windows Input
Method 1: Directly press Shift + 4 on the keyboard
Method 2: Hold the Alt key, type 36 on the numeric keypad, release Alt
Method 3: Use a Chinese input method and type meiyuan or dollar and select $
Mac Input
Method 1: Directly press Shift + 4 on the keyboard
Method 2: Press Control + Command + Space to open the Emoji panel, search "dollar"
HTML Input
Use entity name or number: $ or $ or $
CSS Input
Use backslash escape in pseudo-elements: content: "\0024"; or directly use: content: "$";
Dollar Sign FAQ
What is the origin of the dollar sign?
The dollar sign $ likely originated from the abbreviation PS for the Spanish Peso, later simplified to an S overlaid with a P, eventually evolving into $.
What are the uses of the dollar sign in programming?
In PHP, $ denotes a variable; in regular expressions, $ denotes the end of a line; in jQuery, $ is the core function; in shell scripts, $ is used to reference variables.
Why do so many countries use $ as their currency symbol?
Because the Spanish Peso was once the benchmark currency for global trade, the $ symbol spread along with it. The US adopted this symbol after independence, and the subsequent dominance of the US Dollar made $ the most common currency symbol. Commonwealth countries like Canada and Australia also use the $ with a prefix to distinguish themselves due to historical and economic ties.
How to distinguish the "Dollar" of different countries?
Usually distinguished by prefix letters: US Dollar is US$, Canadian Dollar is C$, Australian Dollar is A$, New Zealand Dollar is NZ$, Singapore Dollar is S$, Hong Kong Dollar is HK$. In formal settings, using international currency codes like USD, CAD, AUD is recommended.
What is USD?
USD is the international currency code for the United States Dollar, where US stands for United States, and D stands for Dollar. USD is the world's most important reserve currency and the most traded currency in the foreign exchange market; the vast majority of global commodities (like oil, gold) are priced in USD.