Dollar Sign
About Dollar Sign
$ is called the "Dollar Sign," the most recognizable currency symbol globally, widely used to represent the US Dollar and many other currencies.
The Dollar sign also plays an important role in computer programming, with special uses in regular expressions, PHP variables, and Shell scripts.
【Origin & Evolution】The most common theory about the dollar sign $ is that it originated from the abbreviation for the Spanish Peso. Early writing superimposed "PS", with the vertical line of the P running through the S. Over time, this simplified and evolved into the current "$" form with a single vertical line through an S. After the United States officially adopted the dollar as its currency unit in 1785, this symbol became its hallmark.
【Global Impact】Besides the US, more than 30 countries and regions including Canada, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil also use $ as their currency symbol, usually with a prefix to distinguish them, such as C$ for Canadian Dollar and A$ for Australian Dollar. Beyond currency, $ is also widely used in programming languages (such as 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 Alt, type 36 on the numeric keypad, release Alt
Method 3: Use Chinese input method to 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 & Symbols 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 for the Spanish Peso, PS, 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, $ represents 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 of global trade, the $ symbol spread along with it. After independence, the United States continued using this symbol, and the subsequent dominance of the US dollar made $ the most universal currency symbol. Commonwealth countries like Canada and Australia also adopted $ with prefixes due to historical and economic ties.
How to distinguish the "Dollar" of different countries?
Usually distinguished by prefix letters: US$ for US Dollar, C$ for Canadian Dollar, A$ for Australian Dollar, NZ$ for New Zealand Dollar, S$ for Singapore Dollar, HK$ for Hong Kong Dollar. In formal contexts, international currency codes are recommended: USD, CAD, AUD, etc.