°
Degree Sign
The degree symbol (°) is used to denote temperature measurements, angular measurements, and various other units. It is indispensable in science, engineering, weather reporting, and geographical coordinates.
Technical Details
- ASCII Code
- 176
- HTML Entity
- °
- Hexadecimal
- 0xB0
- Binary
- 10110000
- Octal
- 260
Usage & Examples
Programming
char symbol = '°'; // ASCII 176HTML/Web
° or °Common Uses
How to Type This Character
Windows
Mac
💡 Pro tip: The fastest way is to bookmark this page or copy the character from our ASCII library!
Related Characters
About the Degree Sign
Scientific Significance
The degree symbol serves multiple critical functions in scientific measurement: temperature scales (Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin), angular measurements in geometry and navigation, and geographic coordinates. It represents 1/360 of a full rotation in angular measurement.
Modern Usage
Essential in weather forecasting, engineering drawings, geographic information systems (GIS), and scientific documentation. The symbol appears in everything from thermostats and weather apps to architectural blueprints and navigation systems.
Technical Details
The degree symbol appears as ASCII code 248 in extended ASCII character sets (IBM Code Page 437) and Unicode U+00B0. It appears as a small raised circle, typically smaller than the letter 'o' and positioned at the top of the text line.
Measurement Standards
In temperature: °C (Celsius), °F (Fahrenheit), °K (Kelvin, though officially just K). In angles: degrees, minutes, and seconds notation (e.g., 45°30'15''). In geography: latitude and longitude coordinates.
History of the Degree Sign
Celsius Temperature Scale
Anders Celsius developed his temperature scale, initially with 0° as boiling point and 100° as freezing point of water. The degree symbol became associated with temperature measurement, though the scale was later reversed to the modern format.
Fahrenheit Scale Adoption
Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit's temperature scale gained widespread use, further cementing the degree symbol's role in temperature measurement. The symbol became standard notation for thermal readings across scientific and practical applications.
Angular Measurement Standardization
Mathematical and navigational texts began consistently using the degree symbol for angular measurements, building on ancient Babylonian base-60 mathematics that divided circles into 360 degrees.
Prime Meridian Conference
The International Prime Meridian Conference established standard notation for geographic coordinates using degrees, minutes, and seconds, making the degree symbol essential for global positioning and cartography.
ASCII Integration
IBM's Code Page 437 included the degree symbol as character 248, enabling its use in computer systems for scientific computing, weather software, and geographic information systems.
Cultural Impact
The degree symbol has become universally recognized across cultures and languages, serving as a critical component of scientific literacy and enabling precise communication of measurements in globalized commerce and research.
Usage Examples
Weather & Climate
ExampleStandard notation in meteorology and climate science
Engineering & Architecture
ExampleEssential for technical drawings and structural calculations
Navigation & Geography
ExampleGlobal positioning system and cartographic notation
Astronomy & Physics
ExamplePrecise positioning in celestial mechanics and space science
Cooking & Food Safety
ExampleFood safety guidelines and recipe instructions