$
Dollar symbol
The dollar symbol ($) represents various currencies worldwide and serves as the primary indicator of monetary value in international finance, e-commerce, and economic communication.
Technical Details
- ASCII Code
- 36
- HTML Entity
- $
- Hexadecimal
- 0x24
- Binary
- 00100100
- Octal
- 44
Usage & Examples
Programming
char symbol = '$'; // ASCII 36HTML/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 Dollar symbol
Economic Significance
Beyond representing the US dollar, the symbol denotes over 20 national currencies including Canadian, Australian, and Hong Kong dollars. It functions as the universal symbol for monetary value in global commerce, financial markets, and economic data.
Digital Commerce
Central to e-commerce platforms, payment systems, and financial applications. The symbol appears in price displays, transaction records, budgeting software, and cryptocurrency exchanges, making it essential for digital economic activity.
Programming Applications
In software development, $ serves multiple functions: variable prefixes in scripting languages (PHP, jQuery), string interpolation markers, and end-of-line anchors in regular expressions, extending beyond its monetary origins.
International Standards
While primarily associated with dollar-denominated currencies, the symbol has become synonymous with monetary value itself, appearing in international financial reporting and cross-border transaction systems regardless of specific currency.
History of the Dollar symbol
US Currency Adoption
The Continental Congress officially adopted the dollar as the United States' monetary unit, choosing the name from the Spanish 'dollar' derived from the German 'thaler', establishing the foundation for the symbol's prominence.
Symbol First Appears
The dollar symbol first appeared in print in correspondence between prominent Americans, likely derived from the Spanish peso's 'PS' abbreviation or the Pillars of Hercules on Spanish coins.
Typewriter Integration
The dollar symbol was included on typewriter keyboards, standardizing its position and ensuring widespread adoption in business correspondence and financial documentation.
ASCII Standardization
The dollar symbol was assigned ASCII code 36, cementing its position in computer systems and enabling its use in early programming languages and electronic financial systems.
Internet Commerce
The rise of e-commerce made the dollar symbol ubiquitous in web interfaces, online shopping, and digital payment systems, extending its reach beyond national boundaries into global digital commerce.
Cultural Impact
The dollar symbol transcended its origins as a currency marker to become a universal symbol of capitalism, prosperity, and economic power, appearing in art, literature, and popular culture as shorthand for wealth and commerce.
Usage Examples
E-commerce
ExampleStandard pricing format in online retail and digital transactions
Financial Reports
ExampleEssential notation for corporate financial communication
Programming
ExampleMultiple technical functions in software development
International Trade
ExampleMulti-currency transactions and foreign exchange