Left Curly Bracket
Block: Basic Latin
- Symbol
- {
- Unicode
U+007B- Unicode name
- LEFT CURLY BRACKET
- Block
- Basic Latin
- Script
- Common
- Category
- Punctuation, Open
- Type
- Punctuation character
Left Curly Bracket ({) is encoded as U+007B and has the formal Unicode name LEFT CURLY BRACKET. Unicode classifies it as Punctuation, Open in the Basic Latin block. Its name places it in the bracket/delimiter family, which gives the page a narrower identity than the glyph alone. Separately encoded named neighbors include } Right Curly Bracket (U+007D); those records should be compared by name and code point rather than merged because their shapes or terminology are related.
The Encoded Identity Behind Left Curly Bracket
{ is Left Curly Bracket (U+007B), classified by Unicode as Punctuation, Open. 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.
If your character differs from this one, try what is this symbol ({)? to find the exact mark from pasted text, Unicode, or visual clues.
Interpreting { in Context
Left Curly Bracket belongs to the typography / punctuation family. Its Unicode identity tells you which character is present, while the surrounding document determines the specific interpretation.
This separation is useful when the same glyph appears in different applications. First identify the character by code point; then use the nearby words, notation, typography, or interface to decide what the author intended. That avoids assigning meaning solely from shape.
Do Not Collapse Left Curly Bracket Into Nearby Named Variants
Unicode stores { as U+007B, while nearby records include } Right Curly Bracket (U+007D). 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.
Encoding { in HTML and Source Text
U+007B = decimal 123 = HTML { / {. A Unicode escape-style form is u007B. Its UTF-8 bytes are 7B.
Use these identifiers in markup, source code, exports, or character diagnostics when the glyph alone is not enough.