The asterisk * is a standard keyboard character at Shift+8 on a US layout. In writing it flags a footnote or marks an omitted letter. In computing it does far more, standing in for "any characters" in a search, for multiplication in most languages, and for a required field on a form.
01 All shortcuts at a glance
| Platform | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard US keyboard | Press Shift+8 directly, it's a printable key, no code needed |
|
| Windows (any app) | Win+. or Win+; emoji/symbol picker, or Character Map (Win+R → charmap) |
|
| Mac | Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer, search "Asterisk" |
|
| Word / Outlook | Type 002A, then press Alt+X |
|
| Linux (IBus) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 002a, then Enter |
|
| HTML / CSS | * · \002a (CSS) |
02 Step by step, per platform
A real, followable procedure for every platform, not a thin restatement of the shortcut.
Any device (US keyboard)
- Press Shift+8, it's printed on the keycap.
- On other layouts (AZERTY, QWERTZ) the key may be in a different position or need a modifier, use the picker methods below if you can't find it.
Windows
- Open Character Map: Win+R, type charmap, press Enter.
- Search or scroll for Asterisk (U+002A).
- Select it, click Copy, then paste where you need it.
Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type "Asterisk" in the search field.
- Double-click the result to insert it.
Microsoft Word
- Type 002A.
- Press Alt+X immediately after, it converts the hex code to *.
03 Characters in this set
04 Troubleshooting & confusables
| Looks like it | But it's actually | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ∗ (U+2217) | Asterisk operator, a maths symbol | Use it in formal mathematics, where it sits on the maths baseline rather than raised. |
| ✱ (U+2731) | Heavy asterisk, a dingbat | A decorative variant. It is not recognised as an operator or a wildcard. |
| ٭ (U+066D) | Arabic five pointed star | For Arabic text only. It commonly arrives by accident through a keyboard layout switch. |
05 FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for the asterisk?
It is U+002A, decimal 42. It is part of ASCII, so it is available in every encoding and every font.
Why is the asterisk raised above the line?
It was designed as a footnote marker, so it is drawn high to sit beside the top of a word. The asterisk operator, U+2217, is the version centred for equations.
What does an asterisk mean in a search box?
In most search and file tools it is a wildcard meaning "any run of characters". Searching report*.pdf matches report-final.pdf and report2.pdf alike.
Why do passwords show as asterisks?
It is a display convention that hides the characters while confirming a key was received. Many systems now use a bullet instead, but the asterisk is the older habit and still common.
What does it mean around a word in a chat message?
Wrapping a word in asterisks marks emphasis in plain text, and Markdown turns it into bold or italics. A single asterisk before a word can also signal a correction to an earlier message.