Slash / Solidus
Block: Basic Latin
- Symbol
- /
- Unicode
U+002F- Unicode name
- SOLIDUS
- Block
- Basic Latin
- Script
- Common
- Category
- Punctuation, Other
- Type
- Punctuation character
Slash / Solidus (/) is encoded as U+002F and has the formal Unicode name SOLIDUS. Unicode classifies it as Punctuation, Other in the Basic Latin block. U+002F is named SOLIDUS in Unicode and is commonly called slash or forward slash. The code point is the stable identifier when fonts, copy-and-paste, or surrounding context make the glyph ambiguous.
Why / Is a Distinct Typographic Character
/ is Slash / Solidus (U+002F), 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.
When another character is unclear, try what does the / symbol mean? to identify it from the character itself, its Unicode value, or its shape.
How / Is Used in Context
U+002F is named SOLIDUS in Unicode and is commonly called slash or forward slash.
Code-Point and UTF-8 Forms for /
U+002F = decimal 47 = HTML / / /. A Unicode escape-style form is u002F. Its UTF-8 bytes are 2F.
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 ⁄ Fraction Slash (U+2044), ∕ Division Slash (U+2215), and ⧸ Big Solidus (U+29F8). 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.