How to type ½ on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+0189.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 0189 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The one half symbol ½ appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "one half". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find ½, click Select, then Copy.
How to type ½ on a Mac
There is no direct keyboard shortcut for ½ on a Mac.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "one half" in the search box and double-click the result. It will be remembered under Frequently Used.
How to type ½ on iPhone and iPad
The iOS keyboard does not include ½, 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 ½ in the Phrase field and type a short code such as ;one in the Shortcut field. Typing that code will then insert ½ anywhere.
How to type ½ 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 ½ as the word and a short code as the shortcut.
How to type ½ in Microsoft Word
- Type the Unicode hex code 00BD where you want the symbol.
- Press Alt+X. Word converts the code into ½.
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 00BD in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(189) returns the symbol.
How to type ½ in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "one half" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(189).
½ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ½ |
| HTML decimal | ½ |
| HTML hex | ½ |
CSS content | "\00BD" |
| JavaScript | "\u00BD" |
| Python | "\u00BD" |
| LaTeX | \frac{1}{2} |
| URL encoded | %C2%BD |
Because ½ is a standard Unicode character (U+00BD), 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 one half symbol is used
Common in recipes and measurements, such as "1½ cups flour" or "½ inch thick". Also appears in retail pricing like "$9½" or informal notes. Some fonts render a similar-looking fraction using slashed digits, but ½ is a single Unicode character rather than three separate ones.
Frequently asked questions
Is ½ the same as 1/2? +
They represent the same value, but ½ is one Unicode character while 1/2 is three separate characters (1, /, 2).
Why does ½ look different in some fonts or apps? +
Rendering depends on font support for the vulgar fraction character; some fonts display it as a compact fraction, others as a plain fallback.
What is the Alt code for the one half symbol? +
The Alt code for ½ is Alt+0189. Hold Alt, type 0189 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
How do I type ½ on a Mac? +
There is no dedicated Mac shortcut for ½. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "one half", and double-click it. Or copy it from this page.
How do I type the one half symbol on iPhone or Android? +
Phone keyboards do not include ½ 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 ½? +
Use ½ in HTML. The numeric form ½ works too. In CSS use content: "\00BD" and in JavaScript use "\u00BD".