Exclamation Mark
Block: Basic Latin
- Symbol
- !
- Unicode
U+0021- Unicode name
- EXCLAMATION MARK
- Block
- Basic Latin
- Script
- Common
- Category
- Punctuation, Other
- Type
- Punctuation character
Exclamation Mark (!) is encoded as U+0021 and has the formal Unicode name EXCLAMATION MARK. Unicode classifies it as Punctuation, Other in the Basic Latin block. The exclamation mark is punctuation used for exclamations and has additional meanings in technical contexts. Separately encoded named neighbors include ¡ Inverted Exclamation Mark (U+00A1) and ‼ Double Exclamation Mark (U+203C); those records should be compared by name and code point rather than merged because their shapes or terminology are related.
Typography Uses the Character, Not Just the Shape
! is Exclamation Mark (U+0021), 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.
Not the symbol you were looking for? Use what is this symbol (“!”)? to identify another mark from pasted text, Unicode, or visual appearance.
How ! Is Encoded
U+0021 = decimal 33 = HTML ! / !. A Unicode escape-style form is u0021. Its UTF-8 bytes are 21.
Use these identifiers in markup, source code, exports, or character diagnostics when the glyph alone is not enough.
Why ! Is Not the Same as Nearby Look-Alikes
This character is linked with nearby or confusable records including ¡ Inverted Exclamation Mark (U+00A1), ‼ Double Exclamation Mark (U+203C), and ǃ Latin Letter Retroflex Click (U+01C3). 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.
The recorded use of Exclamation Mark
! is used in the role described for Exclamation Mark: the exclamation mark is punctuation used for exclamations and has additional meanings in technical contexts.
In that context, U+0021 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+0021, while nearby records include ¡ Inverted Exclamation Mark (U+00A1) and ‼ Double Exclamation Mark (U+203C). 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.