*

Asterisk

ASCII Code: 42•Category: symbols

The asterisk (*) serves multiple critical functions from mathematical multiplication to footnote annotation, wildcard operations in computing, and emphasis in digital communication.

Technical Details

ASCII Code
42
HTML Entity
*
Hexadecimal
0x2A
Binary
00101010
Octal
52

Usage & Examples

Programming

char symbol = '*'; // ASCII 42

HTML/Web

* or *

Common Uses

starasteriskmultiplyfootnotewildcardprogrammingannotation

How to Type This Character

Windows

Alt Code:
Hold Alt and type42 on numeric keypad
Character Map:
Search "Character Map" in Start menu

Mac

Character Viewer:
Press Ctrl +Cmd +Space
Copy & Paste:
Easiest method - copy from this page!

💡 Pro tip: The fastest way is to bookmark this page or copy the character from our ASCII library!

Related Characters

#
Hash symbol
#35
%
Percent sign
#37
&
Ampersand
#38
/
Forward slash
#47
@
At symbol
#64
\
Backslash
#92
^
Circumflex accent
#94
_
Underscore
#95
`
Grave accent
#96
|
Vertical bar
#124
~
Tilde
#126
¦
Broken Bar
#166

About the Asterisk

Mathematical Operations

Essential for multiplication in arithmetic, algebra, and programming languages. The asterisk represents the multiplication operator in calculators, spreadsheets, and mathematical software, making it fundamental to numerical computation and education.

Annotation Systems

Widely used for footnotes, references, and editorial annotations in academic writing, legal documents, and publishing. It creates hierarchical information systems that enhance document comprehension and scholarly communication.

Computing Wildcards

Critical in computer systems for pattern matching, file searches, and database queries. The asterisk serves as a wildcard character in command lines, search functions, and regular expressions, enabling flexible data manipulation.

Digital Emphasis

In online communication, asterisks create emphasis (*important*), markdown formatting, and emotional expression. They enable rich text formatting in plain text environments and social media platforms.

History of the Asterisk

200 BCE

Ancient Greek Origins

Greek scholars used star-like symbols to mark passages in manuscripts for critical commentary, establishing the asterisk's role in textual annotation and scholarly reference systems.

1450s

Printing Press Integration

Early printers adopted the asterisk for footnotes and marginal references, standardizing its typographic form and establishing its role in formal publishing and academic documentation.

1600s

Mathematical Notation

Mathematicians began using * for multiplication operations, particularly in algebraic expressions where × might be confused with the variable x, creating a lasting mathematical convention.

1960s

Computer Programming

Early programming languages adopted * for multiplication and later as a pointer dereference operator, establishing its fundamental role in software development and computer science.

1971

Unix Wildcards

Unix operating systems implemented * as a wildcard character for file pattern matching, creating the foundation for modern command-line interfaces and search operations.

Cultural Impact

The asterisk evolved from ancient scholarly annotation to become a universal symbol of reference, calculation, and digital functionality, bridging academic tradition with modern computational needs.

Usage Examples

Mathematical Operations

Example
Calculation: 5 * 7 = 35, Algebra: 2 * x + 3 = 11

Standard multiplication operator in math and programming

Academic Footnotes

Example
Important concept* *See reference on page 247

Scholarly citation and annotation systems

Computer Commands

Example
Directory listing: ls *.txt | Search: find . -name '*.pdf'

Wildcard pattern matching in file systems

Digital Emphasis

Example
Text formatting: *bold text* in markdown, *emphasis* in messages

Rich text formatting in plain text environments

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