How to Type Ampersand &
Keyboard shortcuts for Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iPhone & Android. Learn the history, alt codes, and HTML entity for the & symbol.
Ampersand & Related Typographic Symbols
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The ampersand & is one of the most recognizable typographic symbols. It appears in company names, programming languages, URLs, and everyday writing. While it sits prominently on most keyboards at Shift+7, knowing all the ways to type it across devices and platforms is still useful.
This guide covers how to type the ampersand on every major platform: Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iPhone, Android, and Linux. We include alt codes, HTML entities, and tips for using & correctly in URLs, code, and formal writing.
The ampersand has a fascinating history as a ligature of the Latin word 'et' (meaning 'and'). It was once considered the 27th letter of the alphabet. All symbols on this page are standard Unicode text that works in any application on any device.
When to reach for how to type ampersand
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Ampersand FAQ
The alt code for & is Alt+38. Hold the Alt key and type 38 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. Make sure Num Lock is enabled. On most keyboards, Shift+7 (US) or Shift+6 (German) is much faster.
The ampersand is a ligature of the Latin letters 'e' and 't', spelling 'et' (the Latin word for 'and'). Over centuries of handwriting, the two letters merged into one symbol. In some italic fonts, you can still clearly see the 'E' and 't' shapes within the & character.
Yes. In the early 19th century, & was taught as the 27th letter of the English alphabet. Students would recite 'X, Y, Z, and per se and' (meaning '& by itself means and'). The phrase 'and per se and' was slurred over time into the word 'ampersand'.
Use & in company names (AT&T, H&M), titles, headings, and informal text where space is limited. In formal writing, spell out 'and'. In legal citations, use & between multiple authors. Never use & to start a sentence.
In HTML, use & to display the & character. This is because & is a reserved character that starts HTML entities (like &, <, >). Writing a bare & in HTML may cause rendering errors.
In most programming languages (JavaScript, C, Java, Python), && is the logical AND operator. It evaluates to true only if both operands are true. In shell scripting, && chains commands so the second runs only if the first succeeds.