free-symbols
{

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

UnicodeU+007B
HTML Entity{
HTML Code{
CSS\007B

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.