Section Sign
Block: Latin-1 Supplement
- Symbol
- §
- Unicode
U+00A7- Unicode name
- SECTION SIGN
- Block
- Latin-1 Supplement
- Script
- Common
- Category
- Punctuation, Other
- Type
- Punctuation character
The section sign § is U+00A7. It is used to reference numbered sections or paragraphs in documents, especially material with formal section numbering. It is related in purpose to other reference marks but is not the same character as the pilcrow ¶.
How § Works as a Section Reference
The section sign is a compact reference marker placed before a section identifier. Unicode specifically annotates the character as being used when referencing numbered sections or paragraphs. In practice, this makes § part of a citation or cross-reference rather than ordinary sentence punctuation.
The information carried by the mark depends on the number or label that follows it. The sign does not itself identify a particular law, chapter, or paragraph; it tells the reader that the following identifier should be interpreted as a section reference within the relevant document or citation system.
If this is not the character you meant, use what does the § symbol mean? to identify the mark from pasted text, Unicode, or its visual shape.
Section Sign § vs Pilcrow ¶
The section sign and pilcrow both appear in structured or editorial text, but they are different symbols. § is SECTION SIGN and is used for section-level references. ¶ is PILCROW SIGN and is associated with paragraphs and paragraph marking.
They are therefore not interchangeable shortcuts. If the source document uses a section sign, replacing it with a pilcrow changes the reference notation. Unicode gives them separate names and code points so the distinction survives plain-text storage and copy-and-paste operations.
Encoding § in HTML and Source Text
The encoded identity can be represented without relying on the glyph. U+00A7 = decimal 167 = HTML § / §. A Unicode escape-style representation is u00A7. The UTF-8 byte sequence for the current glyph is C2 A7.
These forms are useful when a font does not display the symbol clearly, when debugging copied text, or when comparing characters that look alike. Numeric references and escapes identify the underlying code point or sequence rather than a particular font drawing.
Why the Shape of § Is Not Enough to Identify It
The section sign is sometimes described informally as a doubled or intertwined S shape, which is useful for visual recognition but not precise enough for text processing. Similar curls and editorial marks can render differently across fonts, and a visual description cannot confirm the underlying character.
For digital text, the reliable identity is U+00A7. That code point remains stable even when the font changes the exact width, stroke contrast, or curvature of the glyph.