Infinity
Block: Mathematical Operators
- Symbol
- ∞
- Unicode
U+221E- Unicode name
- INFINITY
- Block
- Mathematical Operators
- Category
- Symbol, Math
- Type
- Unicode symbol
The infinity symbol represents an unbounded quantity or concept in mathematics and related contexts. In Unicode text, the record is identified as U+221E. It should be distinguished from related or similar characters such as ♾, ⧜, and 8, which have different Unicode identities.
The Mathematical Role of Infinity
The infinity symbol represents an unbounded quantity or concept in mathematics and related contexts. As mathematical notation, ∞ should be interpreted from the operation or relation expressed by the formula, not from visual resemblance to another mark. Nearby symbols in the WITS relation graph include ♾, ⧜, and 8, which makes exact code-point identification useful when a formula is copied between fonts or applications.
A dedicated Unicode mathematical symbol preserves a distinction that can disappear when authors fall back to ASCII approximations. When editing technical text, verify both the symbol name and the surrounding expression before replacing it with a look-alike.
When another character is unclear, try what is the name of ∞? to identify it from the character itself, its Unicode value, or its shape.
∞ Compared With ♾, ⧜, and 8
Search Core links this character with nearby or confusable records including ♾ Permanent Paper Sign (U+267E), ⧜ Incomplete Infinity (U+29DC), and 8 Digit Eight (U+0038). 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.
Where You Encounter Infinity
The infinity symbol represents an unbounded quantity or concept in mathematics and related contexts. Search terms for the same record include “infinity”, “infinity symbol”, “math”, and “sideways eight”.
The Unicode identity stays the same across fonts and applications even when the surrounding context changes. That makes the code point a more reliable identifier than a visual description alone, especially when similar marks exist.
How ∞ Is Encoded
The encoded identity can be represented without relying on the glyph. U+221E = decimal 8734 = HTML ∞ / ∞. A Unicode escape-style representation is u221E. The UTF-8 byte sequence for the current glyph is E2 88 9E.
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.