Question Mark
Block: Basic Latin
- Symbol
- ?
- Unicode
U+003F- Unicode name
- QUESTION MARK
- Block
- Basic Latin
- Script
- Common
- Category
- Punctuation, Other
- Type
- Punctuation character
Question Mark (?) is encoded as U+003F and has the formal Unicode name QUESTION MARK. Unicode classifies it as Punctuation, Other in the Basic Latin block. The question mark is punctuation commonly used to indicate a question. Separately encoded named neighbors include ¿ Inverted Question Mark (U+00BF) and ？ Fullwidth Question Mark (U+FF1F); those records should be compared by name and code point rather than merged because their shapes or terminology are related.
Why ? Is a Distinct Typographic Character
? is Question Mark (U+003F), classified by Unicode as Punctuation, Other. In digital typography, that encoded identity is separate from the font drawing: a typeface can change width, stroke, or placement without turning the character into another code point.
This matters when punctuation, currency, or measurement marks have close visual neighbors. Preserve the intended character first; language- or style-guide spacing rules can then be applied without silently substituting a different mark.
Need to identify another character? Use what is this symbol (“?”)? with the symbol itself, its Unicode value, or a description of how it looks.
How ? Is Used
? is used in the role described for Question Mark: the question mark is punctuation commonly used to indicate a question.
In that context, U+003F identifies the character itself. The surrounding text supplies the specific information or notation that the mark accompanies, so character identity and document context should be kept separate.
Unicode Distinctions Around ?
Unicode stores ? as U+003F, while nearby records include ¿ Inverted Question Mark (U+00BF) and ？ Fullwidth Question Mark (U+FF1F). These are separate encoded identities, not alternate font drawings of one character.
The comparison is useful because a shared word in the name, a mirrored direction, or a similar outline can make two symbols appear interchangeable. When the distinction matters, compare the complete Unicode name and code point before replacing one record with another.
Code-Point and UTF-8 Forms for ?
U+003F = decimal 63 = HTML ? / ?. A Unicode escape-style form is u003F. Its UTF-8 bytes are 3F.
Use these identifiers in markup, source code, exports, or character diagnostics when the glyph alone is not enough.
? Compared With ¿, ？, and ❓
This character is linked with nearby or confusable records including ¿ Inverted Question Mark (U+00BF), ？ Fullwidth Question Mark (U+FF1F), and ❓ Black Question Mark Ornament (U+2753). The relationship is useful for identification, but it does not make those characters interchangeable.
Fonts can reduce or exaggerate visual differences, so use each character's Unicode value and name when the distinction matters. Replacing one code point with another can change meaning, search behavior, parsing, sorting, or typography even when the glyphs appear close on screen.