Left Curly Bracket Symbol
The left curly bracket “{” (U+007B) is used to open grouped text or code blocks.
U+007B
“{” is the left curly bracket, also called an opening curly brace. You’ll see it in many programming languages and markup formats to start a block or group. This page helps you copy it correctly and understand where it’s commonly used.
Left Curly Bracket Symbol Meaning
The left curly bracket “{” (Unicode U+007B) is a punctuation character that signals the beginning of a grouped structure. In programming, it’s commonly used to start a block of code, such as function bodies, conditional branches, or object literals, depending on the language. In structured text formats and templates, it may be used as a delimiter to open a placeholder or collection-like group. In plain writing, it’s less common, but it can still be used for visual grouping—like denoting a set in informal notes. When copying, it’s important to use the correct character, not a similar brace shape.
Common uses
- •Starting a code block in languages like JavaScript, C, and C++
- •Defining object or dictionary literals in many programming languages
- •Using it as a delimiter for template placeholders or configuration groups
- •Writing structured text that visually groups related items
- •Creating sets or brace-enclosed notation in technical documentation
Variations
Ready to copy
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+007B | |
| HTML Entity | { | |
| HTML Code | { | |
| CSS | \007B | |
| Alt Code | Alt + 123 | |
| Decimal | 123 |
How to type Left Curly Bracket Symbol ({)
On Windows
Hold Alt and type 123 on the numeric keypad. In Word, type 007B then press Alt + X.
On Mac
Switch to the Unicode Hex Input keyboard, then hold Option and type 007B. Or press Control + Command + Space and search.
On Linux
Press Control + Shift + U, type 007b, then press Enter or Space.
Anywhere
Copy { with the button above and paste it wherever you need it — this works on every device and in every app, with no keyboard shortcut to remember.
FAQ
What does the Left Curly Bracket symbol mean?
The left curly bracket “{” (Unicode U+007B) is a punctuation character that signals the beginning of a grouped structure. In programming, it’s commonly used to start a block of code, such as function bodies, conditional branches, or object literals, depending on the language. In structured text formats and templates, it may be used as a delimiter to open a placeholder or collection-like group. In plain writing, it’s less common, but it can still be used for visual grouping—like denoting a set in informal notes. When copying, it’s important to use the correct character, not a similar brace shape.
What is the Unicode code point for “{”?
The left curly bracket “{” has Unicode code point U+007B.
How do I type “{” on a keyboard?
It’s usually on the same key as “}” (often near the “Enter” or bracket keys). Exact shortcuts depend on your keyboard layout.
What are the common programming roles of “{”?
Most commonly, it starts a block (scope) of code. In some languages, it also begins object literals or grouped data structures.
Is “{” the same as “(” or “[”?
No. “{” is a curly brace, while “(” is a parenthesis and “[” is a square bracket. They have different meanings in code and formatting.