Section Sign

ASCII Code: 167•Category: symbols

The section sign (§) is a typographical character used primarily in legal documents, academic writing, and formal documentation to reference specific sections, paragraphs, or subdivisions within structured texts.

Technical Details

ASCII Code: 167
HTML Entity: §
Hexadecimal: 0xA7
Binary: 10100111
Octal: 247

Usage & Examples

Programming

char symbol = '§'; // ASCII 167

HTML/Web

§ or §

Common Uses

sectionparagraphlegaldocumentreference

How to Type This Character

Windows

Alt Code:

Hold Alt and type167 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

About the Section Sign

Legal Documentation

Essential in legal writing for citing specific sections of laws, statutes, contracts, and legal codes. Lawyers and legal scholars use § to create precise references like '§ 501(c)(3)' in tax law or '§ 1983' in civil rights legislation, enabling exact legal citation.

Academic Referencing

Critical for scholarly writing when referencing sections of books, research papers, and academic documents. The symbol provides concise notation for complex document structures, improving readability in footnotes and bibliographies.

Document Organization

Used in formal documents, manuals, and specifications to create hierarchical section numbering systems. Technical writers and document specialists employ § to establish clear navigational structure in complex multi-section documents.

International Usage

Widely recognized across multiple languages and legal systems, particularly in European and Germanic legal traditions. The symbol transcends language barriers in international legal and academic contexts.

History of the Section Sign

Medieval Period

Manuscript Origins

Medieval scribes developed the section sign from the Latin word 'signum sectionis' (sign of cutting), using it to mark divisions in religious and legal manuscripts for easier navigation.

1400s-1500s

Printing Press Adoption

Early printing presses incorporated the section sign into typefaces for legal and scholarly publications, establishing its role in formal document typography.

1800s

Legal Standardization

Legal systems across Europe and North America standardized the use of § for statutory references, creating consistent citation practices in jurisprudence and legal education.

1900s

Academic Integration

Universities and academic publishers adopted the section sign for scholarly citation standards, establishing it as essential for academic writing and research documentation.

1960s-Present

Digital Documentation

Computer systems and word processors integrated § support, enabling its continued use in digital legal documents, online legal databases, and electronic academic publishing.

Cultural Impact

The section sign became fundamental to legal and academic discourse, enabling precise reference systems that support scholarly debate, legal argumentation, and structured knowledge organization.

Usage Examples

Legal Citations

Example

See 42 U.S.C. § 1983, § 501(c)(3) tax exemption, Civil Code § 1542

Standard legal citation format for statutes and codes

Academic Writing

Example

As discussed in § 3.2 of Smith (2023), § 4.1 provides supporting evidence

Section references in scholarly papers and dissertations

Document Structure

Example

§ 1. Introduction, § 2. Methodology, § 3. Results, § 4. Conclusion

Formal document organization and numbering

Contract Language

Example

Pursuant to § 12(a) of this Agreement, § 15 shall govern termination

Internal cross-references in legal contracts and agreements