Equals Sign (=)

The equals sign (=) says the values on both sides are exactly the same — 2 + 2 = 4.

Equals Sign · U+003D · Comparison Signs

Click the symbol or the button to copy it, then paste it anywhere — documents, messages, bios and code.

Equals Sign codes

Code	Value
Unicode code point	`U+003D`
Unicode name	`Equals Sign`
HTML named entity	`=`
HTML decimal	`=`
HTML hex	`=`
CSS content code	`\3D`
JavaScript / JSON	`\u003D`
Windows Alt code	No standard Alt code — copy it from the card above
LaTeX	`=`

Equals Sign variants (6)

6 related glyphs — click any tile to copy it. Tiles with a page open that symbol's own page.

≠Not Equal To ≈Almost Equal To≡Identical To≔Colon Equals≅Approximately Equal To≃Asymptotically Equal To

Meaning & usage

The equals sign is one of the youngest symbols in maths: it was introduced in 1557 by Robert Recorde, who chose two parallel lines because, as he put it, no two things can be more equal. Beyond arithmetic it assigns values in programming (x = 5), builds formulas in spreadsheets, and pairs keys with values in settings and code, as in name=value. Its double and triple-bar cousins ≡ and ≣ mean 'identical to' in stricter mathematical senses.

Examples in use

7 + 5 = 12
=SUM(A1:A10) starts a spreadsheet formula
width=800 in image and settings code

How to type the equals sign

Windows

There is no Alt code or direct key for =. In Microsoft Word, type 003D and press Alt+X to convert it. Everywhere else, click the Copy button at the top of this page and paste it (Ctrl+V) — that always works.

Mac

There is no Option-key shortcut for = on a Mac. Open the Character Viewer with Control+Command+Space, search for "Equals Sign", and double-click to insert — or copy it from this page.

iPhone & Android

Most phone keyboards have no built-in key for =. Open this page on your phone, tap Copy, then paste it into your message or bio. (On Android, Gboard's emoji search finds some symbols by name.)

Linux

Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 003d and press Enter (works in most GTK apps and terminals with IBus). Or copy it from this page.

Frequently asked questions

Who invented the equals sign?

The Welsh mathematician Robert Recorde introduced it in 1557. Before that, writers spelled out 'is equal to' in full words.

What does == mean in programming?

A single = assigns a value, while == compares two values to check whether they are equal. Mixing them up is a classic beginner bug.

What is the difference between = and ≡?

The sign = is everyday equality. The sign ≡ means 'identically equal' or 'defined as' — a stronger, always-true relationship in maths.

Why does = sometimes show as a box or question mark?

The box (called tofu) means the device or font viewing it has no drawing for U+003D (Equals Sign). The character itself is fine — try a different font or a newer device, or use one of the variants on this page.

Is the Equals Sign free to use?

Yes. = is a standard Unicode text character published in the Unicode Character Database. You may use it in personal and commercial documents, designs and products without permission or payment.