The degree symbol (°) is commonly used to represent temperature readings, angles, and other scientific and mathematical measurements. If you're looking to input this symbol into a document or spreadsheet, it's essential to know the simple steps to do so, regardless of the operating system or software you're using.
The key combinations for typing the degree symbol vary depending on the layout of your keyboard and the operating system you're using. In the following sections, we'll provide clear and easy-to-follow instructions for typing the degree symbol in different scenarios.
Let's delve into the step-by-step process of typing the degree symbol on various operating systems and software.
How to Type Degree Symbol
Follow these simple steps to type the degree symbol on various operating systems and software:
- Windows: Alt + 0176
- Mac: Option + Shift + 8
- Linux: Compose + o
- Microsoft Word: Insert > Symbol > More Symbols
- Google Docs: Insert > Special Characters > Degree Symbol
- HTML: °
- LaTeX: \degree
- Unicode: U+00B0
Remember, these methods may vary depending on your specific software or keyboard layout. If you're unsure, consult your software's help documentation for more information.
Windows: Alt + 0176
To type the degree symbol (° ) on a Windows computer using the Alt code method, follow these steps:
- Activate the numeric keypad: On most keyboards, the numeric keypad is located on the right-hand side. If your keyboard doesn't have a dedicated numeric keypad, you can activate the number keys above the letter keys by pressing the "Num Lock" key.
- Hold down the "Alt" key: Locate the "Alt" key on the left side of the spacebar. Press and hold it down.
- Type the numeric code "0176" on the numeric keypad: While holding down the "Alt" key, use the numeric keypad to type the numbers "0", "1", "7", and "6" in sequence. Make sure you use the numeric keypad and not the numbers above the letter keys.
- Release the "Alt" key: Once you've typed the complete numeric code, release the "Alt" key.
The degree symbol (° ) will appear at the cursor's position in your document or text field.
This method works in most Windows applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Notepad. However, some software may have different shortcuts or methods for typing the degree symbol. If you're unsure, consult the software's help documentation or online resources for specific instructions.
Mac: Option + Shift + 8
To type the degree symbol (° ) on a Mac computer using the keyboard shortcut, follow these steps:
- Locate the "Option" key: The "Option" key is typically located on the left and right sides of the spacebar on a Mac keyboard. It's often labeled as "⌥".
- Locate the "Shift" key: The "Shift" key is located on the left and right sides of the keyboard, next to the "Ctrl" key.
- Locate the "8" key: The "8" key is located in the top row of the keyboard, above the letter keys.
- Press and hold the "Option," "Shift," and "8" keys simultaneously: Hold down all three keys at the same time.
- Release the keys: Once you've pressed all three keys, release them simultaneously.
The degree symbol (° ) will appear at the cursor's position in your document or text field.
This keyboard shortcut works in most Mac applications, including Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and TextEdit. However, some software may have different shortcuts or methods for typing the degree symbol. If you're unsure, consult the software's help documentation or online resources for specific instructions.
Linux: Compose + o
To type the degree symbol (° ) on a Linux computer using the Compose key method, follow these steps:
- Locate the Compose key:
The Compose key is typically located on the right side of the keyboard, near the "Alt" key. It may be labeled as "Compose" or have a special symbol, such as a pentagon with a line through it. - Press and release the Compose key:
Press the Compose key once, then release it. This will activate the Compose mode. - Type the letter "o":
While in Compose mode, type the letter "o" using the keyboard. - Press the spacebar:
After typing the letter "o," press the spacebar. This will input the degree symbol (° ) at the cursor's position.
The Compose key method works in most Linux distributions and applications. However, some software may have different shortcuts or methods for typing the degree symbol. If you're unsure, consult the software's help documentation or online resources for specific instructions.
Microsoft Word: Insert > Symbol > More Symbols
To type the degree symbol (° ) in Microsoft Word using the Symbol dialog box, follow these steps:
- Open the Symbol dialog box:
Position the cursor where you want to insert the degree symbol in your Word document. - Click the "Insert" tab in the ribbon:
This will display the Insert tab options. - Click the "Symbol" button in the Symbols group:
A drop-down menu will appear. - Select "More Symbols...":
This will open the Symbol dialog box.
In the Symbol dialog box:
- Select the "Symbols" tab:
This is the default tab when the dialog box opens. - Find the degree symbol:
You can scroll through the symbols or use the "Font" and "Subset" drop-down menus to narrow down your search. The degree symbol is typically located in the "Mathematical Operators" subset. - Click on the degree symbol to select it:
The symbol will appear in the "Character code" field at the bottom of the dialog box. - Click the "Insert" button:
This will insert the degree symbol at the cursor's position in your Word document. - Click the "Close" button to close the Symbol dialog box:
Google Docs: Insert > Special Characters > Degree Symbol
To type the degree symbol (° ) in Google Docs using the Special Characters menu, follow these steps:
- Position the cursor: Place the cursor at the position in your Google Docs document where you want to insert the degree symbol.
- Click the "Insert" menu: In the Google Docs menu bar, click on the "Insert" menu.
- Select "Special Characters": In the "Insert" menu, hover over the "Special Characters" option and select it from the submenu.
- Find the degree symbol: A sidebar will open on the right side of the document. Scroll down the list of special characters until you find the degree symbol (° ). It's typically located in the "Symbols" section.
- Click on the degree symbol: Once you've found the degree symbol, click on it to select it.
- Click the "Insert" button: At the bottom of the special characters sidebar, click the "Insert" button.
The degree symbol (° ) will be inserted at the cursor's position in your Google Docs document.
This method works in all modern web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. If you're using an older browser, you may need to use a different method to type the degree symbol, such as the keyboard shortcuts or the HTML code.
HTML: °
To type the degree symbol (° ) in HTML, you can use the HTML entity code °. Here's how it works:
- Open your HTML document: Locate the HTML document where you want to insert the degree symbol.
- Place the cursor: Position the cursor at the location in your HTML code where you want the degree symbol to appear.
- Type the HTML entity code: Type the following HTML entity code:
° - Save your HTML document: Save the HTML document after adding the HTML entity code.
When you open the HTML document in a web browser, the degree symbol (° ) will be displayed at the location where you inserted the HTML entity code.
Here are some examples of how you can use the ° entity code to insert the degree symbol in HTML:
- To display the temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, you can use the following HTML code:
25°C - To display an angle of 45 degrees, you can use the following HTML code:
45° - To display a degree symbol without any text or numbers, you can simply use the
°entity code on its own.
LaTeX: \degree
To type the degree symbol (° ) in LaTeX, you can use the \degree command. Here's how it works:
- Open your LaTeX document: Locate the LaTeX document where you want to insert the degree symbol.
- Place the cursor: Position the cursor at the location in your LaTeX code where you want the degree symbol to appear.
- Type the LaTeX command: Type the following LaTeX command:
\degree - Save your LaTeX document: Save the LaTeX document after adding the LaTeX command.
When you compile the LaTeX document, the degree symbol (° ) will be displayed at the location where you inserted the LaTeX command.
Here are some examples of how you can use the \degree command to insert the degree symbol in LaTeX:
- To display the temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, you can use the following LaTeX code:
25\degree C - To display an angle of 45 degrees, you can use the following LaTeX code:
45\degree - To display a degree symbol without any text or numbers, you can simply use the
\degreecommand on its own.
Unicode: U+00B0
The degree symbol (° ) is also assigned a Unicode code point, which is U+00B0. This allows you to represent the degree symbol in various digital contexts, such as programming and data storage.
- Find the Unicode code point: Locate the Unicode code point for the degree symbol, which is
U+00B0. - Use the Unicode code point in your application: Depending on the programming language or software you are using, there may be specific methods or functions that allow you to input Unicode characters using their code points. Refer to the documentation of your specific application for more information.
Here are some examples of how you can use the Unicode code point U+00B0 to insert the degree symbol in different contexts:
- In HTML: You can use the following HTML code to insert the degree symbol:
° - In JavaScript: You can use the following JavaScript code to insert the degree symbol:
String.fromCharCode(0x00B0) - In Python: You can use the following Python code to insert the degree symbol:
chr(0x00B0)
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about typing the degree symbol:
Question 1: How do I type the degree symbol on Windows?
Answer 1: On Windows, press and hold the "Alt" key, then type the numeric code "0176" on the numeric keypad, and release the "Alt" key.
Question 2: How do I type the degree symbol on Mac?
Answer 2: On Mac, press and hold the "Option" and "Shift" keys simultaneously, then press the "8" key, and release all three keys.
Question 3: How do I type the degree symbol in Linux?
Answer 3: On Linux, press the "Compose" key, then type the letter "o," and press the spacebar.
Question 4: How do I type the degree symbol in Microsoft Word?
Answer 4: In Microsoft Word, click the "Insert" tab, then click the "Symbol" button, select "More Symbols...," find the degree symbol in the "Symbols" tab, and click "Insert."
Question 5: How do I type the degree symbol in Google Docs?
Answer 5: In Google Docs, click the "Insert" menu, hover over "Special Characters," select "Degree Symbol," and click "Insert."
Question 6: How do I type the degree symbol in HTML?
Answer 6: In HTML, use the HTML entity code °.
Question 7: How do I type the degree symbol in LaTeX?
Answer 7: In LaTeX, use the LaTeX command \degree.
Question 8: How do I type the degree symbol using the Unicode code point?
Answer 8: Use the Unicode code point U+00B0 in your application or programming language.
Remember, the specific method for typing the degree symbol may vary depending on your operating system, software, or programming language. Consult the documentation or help resources of your specific application for more information.
In addition to the methods mentioned in the FAQ, here are some additional tips for typing the degree symbol:
Tips
Here are some practical tips for typing the degree symbol quickly and easily:
Tip 1: Use keyboard shortcuts:
If your operating system or software supports keyboard shortcuts for the degree symbol, learn and use them. This can save you time and effort.
Tip 2: Create a custom keyboard shortcut:
If your software allows you to create custom keyboard shortcuts, assign one to the degree symbol. This way, you can easily insert the symbol with just a few keystrokes.
Tip 3: Use the symbol menu:
Most word processors and text editors have a symbol menu or character map that allows you to insert special symbols, including the degree symbol. This is a convenient way to find and insert the symbol without having to remember keyboard shortcuts or codes.
Tip 4: Use the Unicode code point:
If you're working with programming languages or applications that support Unicode, you can use the Unicode code point U+00B0 to represent the degree symbol. This is a universal way to insert the symbol regardless of the operating system or software.
Remember, the best method for typing the degree symbol depends on your specific needs and preferences. Experiment with different methods and find the one that works best for you.
With these tips and the methods mentioned in the previous sections, you should be able to type the degree symbol in any application or document with ease.
Conclusion
In this article, we explored various methods for typing the degree symbol (° ) on different operating systems, software applications, and programming languages. We covered keyboard shortcuts, symbol menus, HTML entities, LaTeX commands, and Unicode code points, providing step-by-step instructions and examples for each method.
Remember, the specific method you use to type the degree symbol may vary depending on your specific needs and preferences. Experiment with different methods and find the one that works best for you. With a little practice, you'll be able to insert the degree symbol quickly and easily in any document or code.
We hope this article has been helpful in providing you with the knowledge and resources you need to type the degree symbol efficiently. If you have any further questions or encounter any difficulties, don't hesitate to consult the documentation or online resources for your specific application or programming language.