The pipe | is usually on the same key as the backslash, reached with Shift. Unicode names it Vertical Line. In a shell it sends the output of one command into the next, which is where the name comes from. It also means logical or in most programming languages, and separates columns in Markdown tables.
01 All shortcuts at a glance
| Platform | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard US keyboard | Press Shift+\ 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 "Vertical Line" |
|
| Word / Outlook | Type 007C, then press Alt+X |
|
| Linux (IBus) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 007c, then Enter |
|
| HTML / CSS | | · \007c (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+\, 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 Vertical Line (U+007C).
- Select it, click Copy, then paste where you need it.
Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type "Vertical Line" in the search field.
- Double-click the result to insert it.
Microsoft Word
- Type 007C.
- 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+00A6) | Broken bar, with a gap in the middle | A legacy character with no modern use. It will not work as a pipe in any shell. |
| ∣ (U+2223) | Divides, a maths relation | Used in number theory to mean "divides". Not an operator in any programming language. |
| ǀ (U+01C0) | Latin letter dental click | A phonetic letter. It looks identical in many fonts and is a genuine copy-paste hazard. |
05 FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for the pipe?
It is U+007C, decimal 124. Unicode names it Vertical Line. The names pipe, bar and vertical bar all refer to it.
What is the difference between | and ||?
In most C-style languages a single pipe is bitwise or, working on individual bits. A double pipe is logical or, working on true and false, and it stops evaluating as soon as the answer is known.
Why is my pipe not working in the terminal?
The most likely cause is a broken bar, U+00A6, copied from a document, or a curly character inserted by autocorrect. Retype it from the keyboard rather than pasting.
How do I put a pipe inside a Markdown table cell?
Escape it as | so the parser does not read it as a column break. In an HTML table you can also use the entity |.
Where is the pipe key on my keyboard?
On a US layout it is Shift and the key above Enter, shared with the backslash. On a UK layout it is Shift and the key beside the left Shift. On many other layouts it needs AltGr.