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Hyphen

ASCII Code: 45•Category: punctuation

The hyphen (-) connects compound words and serves as the subtraction operator in mathematics while playing crucial roles in programming, web addresses, and data formatting.

Technical Details

ASCII Code
45
HTML Entity
-
Hexadecimal
0x2D
Binary
00101101
Octal
55

Usage & Examples

Programming

char symbol = '-'; // ASCII 45

HTML/Web

- or -

Common Uses

hyphendashminuscompoundnegativesubtractionconnection

How to Type This Character

Windows

Alt Code:
Hold Alt and type45 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

!
Exclamation mark
#33
"
Double quotes
#34
'
Single quote
#39
,
Comma
#44
.
Period Dot
#46
:
Colon
#58
;
Semicolon
#59
?
Question mark
#63
«
Left Guillemet Double Angle Quotes
#171
»
Right Guillemet Double Angle Quotes
#187
¿
Inverted Question Mark
#191
­
Soft Hyphen
#173

About the Hyphen

Word Formation

The hyphen creates compound words (mother-in-law, twenty-one) and connects prefixes to words, enabling precise language expression and preventing ambiguity in meaning. It's essential for maintaining clarity in complex vocabulary.

Mathematical Operations

Serves as the universal minus sign for subtraction and negative number indication. The hyphen enables mathematical calculation in arithmetic, algebra, and computational systems worldwide.

Digital Addressing

Critical for domain names, URLs, and file naming conventions where spaces aren't allowed. The hyphen enables readable web addresses and maintains SEO-friendly formatting in digital systems.

Data Organization

Used for ranges (pages 10-20), dates (2024-01-15), and code organization. The hyphen structures information in databases, programming, and document formatting systems.

History of the Hyphen

1400s

Manuscript Origins

Medieval scribes used horizontal lines to connect broken words at line endings, establishing the hyphen's role in maintaining word integrity across text lines.

1500s

Printing Standardization

Early printers standardized hyphen usage for compound words and line breaks, creating typographic conventions that persist in modern publishing and design.

1557

Mathematical Symbol

Robert Recorde's mathematical texts began using the horizontal line for subtraction, establishing the hyphen/minus sign's mathematical significance in arithmetic.

1985

Domain Name System

The Internet's DNS allowed hyphens in domain names, making them essential for readable web addresses and international domain naming conventions.

1990s

Programming Conventions

Software development adopted hyphen-separated naming (kebab-case) for CSS classes, file names, and URL structures, establishing modern coding conventions.

Cultural Impact

The hyphen became essential for connecting ideas, words, and digital resources, evolving from medieval text formatting to enable modern web navigation and programming practices.

Usage Examples

Compound Words

Example
state-of-the-art technology, twenty-five years old, self-driving car

Word formation and clarity in complex expressions

Mathematical Operations

Example
15 - 7 = 8, Temperature: -5°C, Account balance: -$250

Subtraction operator and negative number indication

Web Addresses

Example
best-pizza-nyc.com, user-friendly-design, search-engine-optimization

URL formatting and SEO-friendly web addresses

Data Formatting

Example
Date: 2024-03-15, Range: pages 45-67, ISBN: 978-0-123456-78-9

Standardized data organization and identification systems

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