Vulgar Fraction One Half Symbol
The ½ symbol represents the vulgar fraction one half (50%).
U+00BD
The ½ symbol is a single-character vulgar fraction for writing “one half” clearly and compactly. It’s commonly used in text, labels, and design layouts where a fraction character is preferred over “1/2”.
Vulgar Fraction One Half Symbol Meaning
The character “½” is the Vulgar Fraction One Half, a Unicode punctuation symbol used to represent the fraction 1/2 in one character. It helps keep typography tidy by avoiding slash-based fractions like “1/2” and by providing consistent spacing and alignment in many fonts. In practice, it’s used for percentages and measurements (such as “half,” “50%,” or “½ cup”). Because it’s a single Unicode character (Unicode name: VULGAR FRACTION ONE HALF; code point U+00BD), it’s easy to copy/paste into documents, web pages, and design tools.
Common uses
- •Writing “half” or “one half” in short labels and annotations
- •Displaying food or recipe measurements like “½ cup”
- •Denoting fractions in UI text, badges, and product details
- •Formatting percentages in compact typography, e.g., “½ price”
- •Using it in marketing copy where “1/2” would look less polished
Examples
½ (Vulgar Fraction One Half)
- ½Add ½ cup of sugar.
- ½Service fee: ½ of the listed price.
- ½Mix for ½ minute.
- ½Cook until it’s ½ done (about 5 minutes).
- ½Use ½ inch bolts for the bracket.
Variations
Ready to copy
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+00BD | |
| HTML Entity | ½ | |
| HTML Code | ½ | |
| CSS | \00BD | |
| Alt Code | Alt + 0189 | |
| Decimal | 189 |
How to type Vulgar Fraction One Half Symbol (½)
On Windows
Hold Alt and type 189 on the numeric keypad. In Word, type 00BD then press Alt + X.
On Mac
Switch to the Unicode Hex Input keyboard, then hold Option and type 00BD. Or press Control + Command + Space and search.
On Linux
Press Control + Shift + U, type 00bd, then press Enter or Space.
Anywhere
Copy ½ 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 Vulgar Fraction One Half symbol mean?
The character “½” is the Vulgar Fraction One Half, a Unicode punctuation symbol used to represent the fraction 1/2 in one character. It helps keep typography tidy by avoiding slash-based fractions like “1/2” and by providing consistent spacing and alignment in many fonts. In practice, it’s used for percentages and measurements (such as “half,” “50%,” or “½ cup”). Because it’s a single Unicode character (Unicode name: VULGAR FRACTION ONE HALF; code point U+00BD), it’s easy to copy/paste into documents, web pages, and design tools.
Is ½ a Unicode character or just a special font symbol?
It’s a real Unicode character: U+00BD with the Unicode name VULGAR FRACTION ONE HALF.
What HTML entity and escapes can I use to insert ½ on a webpage?
HTML entity: ½. CSS escape: \\00BD. JavaScript escape: \\u{00BD}.
When should I use ½ instead of writing 1/2?
Use ½ when you want a single, typographically consistent fraction character that’s easier to align and looks cleaner in many fonts.
Will ½ look the same on every device or browser?
Appearance can vary by font support, but it remains the same Unicode character. If a font lacks the glyph, you may see a fallback.