Left Parenthesis
Block: Basic Latin
- Symbol
- (
- Unicode
U+0028- Unicode name
- LEFT PARENTHESIS
- Block
- Basic Latin
- Script
- Common
- Category
- Punctuation, Open
- Type
- Punctuation character
Left Parenthesis (() is encoded as U+0028 and has the formal Unicode name LEFT PARENTHESIS. Unicode classifies it as Punctuation, Open in the Basic Latin block. The left parenthesis opens a parenthetical or grouped expression. Separately encoded named neighbors include ) Right Parenthesis (U+0029), ❨ Medium Left Parenthesis Ornament (U+2768), and （ Fullwidth Left Parenthesis (U+FF08); 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 Left Parenthesis (U+0028), 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.
Need to identify another character? Use what is this ( symbol? with the symbol itself, its Unicode value, or a description of how it looks.
Unicode Distinctions Around (
Unicode stores ( as U+0028, while nearby records include ) Right Parenthesis (U+0029), ❨ Medium Left Parenthesis Ornament (U+2768), and （ Fullwidth Left Parenthesis (U+FF08). 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+0028 = decimal 40 = HTML ( / (. A Unicode escape-style form is u0028. Its UTF-8 bytes are 28.
Use these identifiers in markup, source code, exports, or character diagnostics when the glyph alone is not enough.
Characters That Can Be Confused With (
This character is linked with nearby or confusable records including ) Right Parenthesis (U+0029), ❨ Medium Left Parenthesis Ornament (U+2768), and （ Fullwidth Left Parenthesis (U+FF08). 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 Left Parenthesis
( is used in the role described for Left Parenthesis: the left parenthesis opens a parenthetical or grouped expression.
In that context, U+0028 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.