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White Square Symbol (□)
The white square (□) is the empty box — maths' end-of-proof mark, and the frame for a thousand diagrams.
White Square codes
| Code | Value |
|---|---|
| Unicode code point | U+25A1 |
| Unicode name | White Square |
| HTML named entity | □ |
| HTML decimal | □ |
| HTML hex | □ |
| CSS content code | \25A1 |
| JavaScript / JSON | \u25A1 |
| Windows Alt code | No standard Alt code — copy it from the card above |
White Square variants (4)
4 related glyphs — click any tile to copy it. Tiles with a page open that symbol's own page.
Meaning & usage
□ carries a famous job in mathematics: placed at the end of a proof it means Q.E.D. — 'which was to be demonstrated' — a tradition Paul Halmos popularised as the 'tombstone'. Elsewhere it is the unticked checkbox of paper forms, a placeholder box when a font is missing (an accidental meaning), and a clean geometric bullet.
Examples in use
- Therefore the theorem holds. □
- Tick one: □ yes □ no
How to type the white square
Windows
There is no Alt code or direct key for □. In Microsoft Word, type 25A1 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 "White Square", 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 25a1 and press Enter (works in most GTK apps and terminals with IBus). Or copy it from this page.
Frequently asked questions
What does □ mean at the end of a maths proof?
It is the tombstone or Halmos symbol, meaning Q.E.D. — the proof is complete. It replaced writing the letters Q.E.D. in modern textbooks.
Is □ the same as the 'missing character' box?
The box you see when a font lacks a glyph is your system's placeholder, which happens to be square-shaped. The character □ itself (U+25A1) is a deliberate white square.
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+25A1 (White Square). The character itself is fine — try a different font or a newer device, or use one of the variants on this page.
Is the White Square 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.
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Data: Unicode Character Database · Page updated 2026-11-13