Symbols Reference | Degree Symbol, Angle Symbol, Temperature & Unit Symbols

The degree symbol (°) is one of the most frequently used symbols in daily life and scientific contexts. Its primary usage is to denote angular measurement — for example, a right angle is 90°. It is also used to indicate temperature units, such as "25°C" (degrees Celsius) or "77°F" (degrees Fahrenheit). Additionally, in geographic coordinates, the degree symbol is indispensable, often used together with minutes (′) and seconds (″), e.g., "118°15′30″ East Longitude". In mathematics, astronomy, navigation systems, and engineering drawings, the degree symbol serves as a standardized measurement mark. This page not only covers the core angular degree symbol but also includes the degree Celsius (℃), degree Fahrenheit (℉), per mille sign (‰), per ten thousand sign (‱), minute (′), second (″), and commonly used mathematical unit symbols. Each symbol is thoroughly described with its Unicode encoding, LaTeX command, HTML entity, and English pronunciation to aid academic writing and technical typesetting.

📐 Angle & Temperature Symbols Explained

° Degree Symbol is called the degree symbol or angle symbol. It serves as an internationally recognized measurement identifier. Its Unicode encoding is U+00B0. In LaTeX, it can be generated using the \textdegree command or via $^\circ$ (the latter is commonly used within math mode). The HTML entity is ° or °. In mathematics and geometry, ° represents the magnitude of a planar angle, with a full circle measuring 360°. In physics, the degree symbol is widely used for temperature measurement (combined with C or F). Note: When using LaTeX, \textdegree produces a symbol that harmonizes with body text, while $^\circ$ generates a circle positioned slightly higher, which is more suitable for mathematical formulas.

℃ Degree Celsius Symbol is the dedicated symbol for the Celsius temperature scale. Its Unicode encoding is U+2103. LaTeX does not have a built-in composite symbol for this; the common approach is to use $^\circ$C or \textcelsius (requires the gensymb package). The HTML entity is ℃. The Celsius scale was proposed by Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius, defining the freezing point of water at standard atmospheric pressure as 0°C and the boiling point as 100°C. Note: In standard writing, there should be no space between the degree symbol and the letter C, e.g., "25°C".

℉ Degree Fahrenheit Symbol is the symbol for the Fahrenheit temperature scale, primarily used in the United States and some English-speaking countries. Its Unicode encoding is U+2109. In LaTeX, it can be written as $^\circ$F or \textfahrenheit (with the gensymb package). The HTML entity is ℉. The Fahrenheit scale is named after German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, with water freezing at 32°F and boiling at 212°F. Note: In scientific papers that require both Celsius and Fahrenheit, it is advisable to provide the conversion formula upon first use: °C = (°F - 32) ÷ 1.8.

′ Prime Symbol (Arcminute) is called the arcminute symbol or minute symbol, used for fine angular measurement where 1 degree = 60 arcminutes. Its Unicode encoding is U+2032. In LaTeX, you can type $'$ or use the ^{\prime} command. The HTML entity is ′. It is commonly used in map coordinates, astronomical observations, and engineering drawings, e.g., "39°54′N" for geographic latitude. Note: While this symbol looks similar to the English single quote ('), the proper prime symbol has a more curved appearance. For best results, use the Unicode character directly or LaTeX's \prime command.

″ Double Prime Symbol (Arcsecond) is called the arcsecond symbol or second symbol, an even smaller unit of angular measurement where 1 arcminute = 60 arcseconds. Its Unicode encoding is U+2033. In LaTeX, use '' or ^{\prime\prime}. The HTML entity is ″. In astronomy, stellar parallax angles are often expressed in arcseconds, e.g., "0.1″". Note: The arcsecond symbol should not be confused with English double quotes. Professional typesetting recommends using the double combination of LaTeX's \prime command.

‰ Per Mille Sign is called the per mille sign or thousand sign, representing a fraction of one part per thousand. Its Unicode encoding is U+2030. LaTeX command: \textperthousand (requires the textcomp package) or \permil (with certain packages). The HTML entity is ‰. It is commonly used in chemical concentrations (e.g., 5‰) or statistical ratios (such as mortality rates). Note: The per mille sign is similar in function to the percent sign (%), but its denominator is 1000, making it especially common in finance, medicine, and scientific contexts.

‱ Per Ten Thousand Sign is called the per ten thousand sign or basis point symbol, representing parts per ten thousand. Its Unicode encoding is U+2031. In LaTeX, use \textpertenthousand (requires the textcomp package). The HTML entity is ‱. In finance, the per ten thousand sign is used to denote basis points, e.g., "25‱" for bond yield spreads. Note: This symbol is relatively rare in everyday text but highly practical in financial reports and professional statistical documents.

⚙️ Comprehensive Unit & Mathematical Symbols Explained

∠ Angle Symbol is called the angle symbol or geometric angle marker, used in mathematics and geometry to denote an angle relationship. Its Unicode encoding is U+2220. LaTeX command: \angle. HTML entity: ∠. For example, in geometric proofs, one might write "∠ABC = 60°". Note: The angle symbol (∠) is different from the degree symbol (°); the former marks a geometric figure or vertex, while the latter indicates the magnitude of the angle measurement.

∡ Measured Angle Symbol is called the measured angle symbol, used to represent a directed or absolute angle that has been measured. Its Unicode encoding is U+2221. LaTeX command: \measuredangle. HTML entity: ∡. This symbol is primarily used in advanced geometry or engineering drawings for precise dimensional marking, carrying more quantifiable meaning than a plain ∠.

⊥ Perpendicular Symbol is called the perpendicular foot symbol or perpendicular symbol, indicating a perpendicular relationship between two lines or planes. Its Unicode encoding is U+22A5. LaTeX command: \perp. HTML entity: ⊥. It is commonly used in geometric theorems and in physics for orthogonal components of forces.

∥ Parallel Symbol is called the parallel symbol, denoting a parallel relationship in geometry. Its Unicode encoding is U+2225. LaTeX command: \parallel. HTML entity: ∥. In algebra, it can also indicate parallel vectors or linear dependence. Note: The parallel symbol can be easily confused with double vertical bars in typewriting, but in professional typesetting, they differ in thickness.

± Plus-Minus Symbol is called the plus-minus sign or plus-or-minus sign, representing a value that can be either positive or negative, or an error range. Its Unicode encoding is U+00B1. LaTeX command: \pm. HTML entity: ±. It is commonly used in measurement contexts: "20 ± 0.5 mm" indicates tolerance. Note: The inverted minus-plus symbol (∓) can be generated using the \mp command.

÷ Division Sign is called the division sign or division operator. Its Unicode encoding is U+00F7. LaTeX command: \div. HTML entity: ÷. In basic arithmetic, it represents division, though in advanced mathematics, a slash or horizontal fraction bar is more commonly used.

% Percent Sign is called the percent sign or percentage symbol, meaning parts per hundred. Its Unicode encoding is U+0025. In LaTeX, the % character must be escaped as \% because it is used for comments. The HTML entity is %. It is ubiquitous in daily life and statistics, e.g., "30% discount". Note: In LaTeX, because % denotes a comment, a backslash escape is required to display it in the body text.

√ Square Root Symbol is called the radical sign or square root symbol. Its Unicode encoding is U+221A. LaTeX command: \sqrt{} (with the argument inside braces). HTML entity: √. Extended usage: cube roots can be written as \sqrt[3]{}. Note: The root sign combined with an overline can represent radicals of any degree.

∞ Infinity Symbol is called the infinity symbol or infinite sign. Its Unicode encoding is U+221E. LaTeX command: \infty. HTML entity: ∞. In mathematical analysis, it represents unbounded limits, such as limits approaching infinity.

∫ Integral Symbol is called the integral sign or definite integral symbol, introduced by Leibniz. Its Unicode encoding is U+222B. LaTeX command: \int. HTML entity: ∫. In calculus, it represents summation and area under a curve. Note: Multiple integrals can be written using \iint or \iiint.

∮ Contour Integral Symbol is called the closed curve integral or loop integral symbol. Its Unicode encoding is U+222E. LaTeX command: \oint. HTML entity: ∮. It is used in electromagnetism for Ampère's circuital law or in fluid dynamics for circulation calculations.

∴ Therefore Symbol is called the therefore sign or "thus" symbol. Its Unicode encoding is U+2234. LaTeX command: \therefore. HTML entity: ∴. It is frequently used in logical deduction and mathematical proofs in place of the word "therefore".

∵ Because Symbol is called the because sign. Its Unicode encoding is U+2235. LaTeX command: \because. HTML entity: ∵. It is used together with the therefore symbol to form a chain of syllogistic reasoning.

· Middle Dot Symbol is called the interpunct or middle dot operator. Its Unicode encoding is U+00B7. LaTeX command: \cdot. HTML entity: ·. In mathematics, it represents multiplication (dot product). In foreign name transliterations, it is used as a separator, such as in "Charles·Baudelaire". Note: The interpunct in English and Chinese is the same character.

📏 Technical Tips for Using These Symbols

When using symbols in various documents, it is important to select the correct encoding or command based on the environment. For web pages (HTML), it is recommended to use character entities directly (e.g., °) to ensure compatibility with older browsers. For LaTeX academic papers, be sure to use the math-mode commands provided for optimal roman or italic formatting. For office software such as Microsoft Word, symbols can be inserted via "Insert → Symbol" or simply copied from this page. Composite symbols like degree Celsius or Fahrenheit may vary slightly in appearance across different fonts — it is recommended to use the combination of a degree circle plus the letter for consistency in scientific and engineering documents. It is important to note that the degree symbol (°) should not be confused with a superscript ring (˚), which is typically used for diacritical marks and is not a standard angular unit.

💡 Usage Tips

Click on any symbol card to open the detail panel, where you can copy the symbol's pronunciation, Unicode encoding, LaTeX commands, and HTML entity with one click. You can also generate SVG vector source code or download a 512×512 transparent-background PNG image. All symbols on this page are categorized by practical usage scenarios (angle/temperature/math units, etc.), and you can quickly filter them using the navigation buttons at the top. The FAQ section below addresses common questions such as "how to type the degree symbol," "keyboard shortcuts for arcminutes and arcseconds," and more. For scientific research, education, and design contexts, always refer to official Unicode blocks to ensure proper character rendering. Learning the standard pronunciations of each symbol — such as "degree," "per mille," "arcminute," etc. — facilitates accurate communication.