Click to Copy the Symbol
The diameter symbol (Ø) is a special character primarily used in technical drawings and engineering documents to indicate the diameter of a circle. It has Danish and Norwegian origins, where it is also used as a letter.
In mathematics and statistics, the symbol Ø is sometimes used to represent an average value, especially in European countries. This makes it particularly relevant for weighted average calculations.
Uppercase vs Lowercase
There are two variants of this symbol - uppercase (Ø) and lowercase (ø). Each has different uses:
- Uppercase Ø - Used for diameter designation in technical drawings and as a capital letter in Scandinavian languages
- Lowercase ø - Used in text as a regular letter in Danish and Norwegian
How to Type on Computer
The method for typing the diameter symbol differs by operating system:
- Windows: Hold Alt and type 0216 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. Result: Ø
- Mac: Press Option + Shift + O for uppercase Ø
- Mac: Press Option + O for lowercase ø
- Linux: Press Ctrl + Shift + U, then type 00D8 and press Enter
How to Type on Mobile Devices
On mobile devices, you can access the symbol through the keyboard:
- iOS: Press and hold the letter O, then select Ø from the popup menu
- Android: Press and hold the letter O, then select Ø from the popup menu (availability depends on keyboard)
Typing in Office Programs
In popular office applications, you can insert the symbol using special character functions:
- Microsoft Word: Insert → Symbol → Special Characters, or use Alt + 0216
- Google Docs: Insert → Special characters → search for "diameter"
- Microsoft Excel: The same method as Word, or copy-paste the symbol
HTML and Web Development
For displaying the symbol in HTML, you can use several methods:
Direct Character
Simply copy and paste the symbol directly into your HTML:
HTML Entity (Named)
Use the named HTML entity for the symbol:
This displays as: Average: Ø
HTML Entity (Numeric)
Use the numeric HTML entity:
This displays as: Average: Ø
Unicode in CSS
You can also use Unicode in CSS with the content property:
Make sure your HTML document uses UTF-8 encoding for proper display.
Summary
The diameter symbol Ø is a versatile character used in engineering, mathematics, and Scandinavian languages. Whether you need it for technical documentation, mathematical notation, or international communication, there are multiple ways to type it on any device.