How to type [ on Windows
The left square bracket symbol has no short Alt code. The quickest option is to copy it from the top of this page and paste it with Ctrl+V.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "left square bracket". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find [, click Select, then Copy.
How to type [ on a Mac
There is no direct keyboard shortcut for [ on a Mac.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "left square bracket" in the search box and double-click the result. It will be remembered under Frequently Used.
How to type [ on iPhone and iPad
The iOS keyboard does not include [, so the reliable way is to copy it from this page, then press and hold in any text field and tap Paste.
If you use it often, create a shortcut: open Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, paste [ in the Phrase field and type a short code such as ;left in the Shortcut field. Typing that code will then insert [ anywhere.
How to type [ on Android
Copy the symbol from this page, then long-press in a text field and choose Paste. Gboard also keeps a clipboard history: tap the clipboard icon on the toolbar to paste it again later.
For a permanent shortcut, open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, add [ as the word and a short code as the shortcut.
How to type [ in Microsoft Word
- Type the Unicode hex code 005B where you want the symbol.
- Press Alt+X. Word converts the code into [.
This works on Windows in Word, Outlook and OneNote and needs no numeric keypad. You can also go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, set the font to a Unicode font and type 005B in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(91) returns the symbol.
How to type [ in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "left square bracket" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(91).
[ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | [ |
| HTML decimal | [ |
| HTML hex | [ |
CSS content | "\005B" |
| JavaScript | "\u005B" |
| Python | "\u005B" |
| URL encoded | %5B |
Because [ is a standard Unicode character (U+005B), you can also paste it directly into any UTF-8 file. The escaped forms above are only needed when the file encoding is uncertain or the symbol must be entered on a keyboard without it.
Where the left square bracket symbol is used
Used in writing to add editorial clarifies inside quotes, like "He [Smith] left early," and in programming for arrays, such as arr[0]. Also common in citations, e.g. [1], and markup languages. Not to be confused with parentheses or curly braces.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between square brackets and parentheses? +
Parentheses add extra information, while square brackets usually mark editorial insertions in quotes or indicate array indices and references in code.
Why are square brackets used in quotes? +
They show that a word or phrase was added or changed by someone other than the original speaker, often for clarity.
What is the Alt code for the left square bracket symbol? +
The left square bracket symbol has no short Alt code. Copy it from this page, or in Word type 005B and press Alt + X.
How do I type [ on a Mac? +
There is no dedicated Mac shortcut for [. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "left square bracket", and double-click it. Or copy it from this page.
How do I type the left square bracket symbol on iPhone or Android? +
Phone keyboards do not include [ by default. Copy it from this page and paste it, or add it as a text replacement shortcut in Settings so you can type it with a short abbreviation.
What is the HTML code for [? +
Use [ in HTML. The numeric form [ works too. In CSS use content: "\005B" and in JavaScript use "\u005B".