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Perpendicular Symbol (⊥)

The perpendicular symbol (⊥) says two lines meet at a perfect 90° right angle — AB ⊥ CD.

⊥

Up Tack · U+22A5 · Math Symbols

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

Perpendicular Symbol codes

Code	Value
Unicode code point	`U+22A5`
Unicode name	`Up Tack`
HTML named entity	`&perp;`
HTML decimal	`⊥`
HTML hex	`⊥`
CSS content code	`\22A5`
JavaScript / JSON	`\u22A5`
Windows Alt code	No standard Alt code — copy it from the card above
LaTeX	`\perp`

Perpendicular Symbol variants (4)

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

∠Angle∥Parallel To∣Divides°Degree Sign

Meaning & usage

⊥ is an upside-down T that declares two lines, planes or vectors meet at exactly 90 degrees. It keeps geometry proofs short ('draw a line ⊥ to the base') and reappears in logic, where ⊥ means 'false' or a contradiction, and in statistics for independence. If ⊥ shows interest, its partner ∥ does the opposite job: parallel lines that never meet.

Examples in use

The ladder stands ⊥ to the ground
In the proof, DE ⊥ AB
x ⊥ y means x and y are independent (statistics)

How to type the perpendicular symbol

Windows

There is no Alt code or direct key for ⊥. In Microsoft Word, type 22A5 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 "Perpendicular Symbol", 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 22a5 and press Enter (works in most GTK apps and terminals with IBus). Or copy it from this page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I type ⊥ on a keyboard?

There is no standard key or Alt code. Copy ⊥ from this page; in Word, type 22A5 then press Alt+X.

What is the difference between ⊥ and a right-angle marker?

The little square drawn in the corner of a diagram (∟ style) marks one specific angle as 90°. The ⊥ symbol states the relationship in text: line A ⊥ line B.

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+22A5 (Up Tack). The character itself is fine — try a different font or a newer device, or use one of the variants on this page.

Is the Perpendicular Symbol 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.

Related symbols

∠Angle Symbol °Degree Symbol