Caret Symbol Copy and Paste (^)
Caret (keyboard)
Unicode U+005E · HTML ^ · Alt code Alt+94
Tap any symbol to copy it. Each tap also adds it to the box above, so you can copy several together.
Codes for every symbol on this page (Unicode, HTML, Alt, Mac, Word)
| Symbol | Name | Unicode | HTML | Windows Alt code | Mac | MS Word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ^ | Caret (keyboard) | U+005E | ^ | Alt+94 | - | 005E then Alt+X |
| ˆ | Modifier circumflex | U+02C6 | ˆ | Alt+0136 | - | 02C6 then Alt+X |
| ‸ | Proofreading caret | U+2038 | ‸ | - | - | 2038 then Alt+X |
| ⁁ | Caret insertion point | U+2041 | ⁁ | - | - | 2041 then Alt+X |
| ∧ | Logical and | U+2227 | ∧ | - | - | 2227 then Alt+X |
| ̂ | Combining hat | U+0302 | ̂ | - | - | 0302 then Alt+X |
The caret symbol (^) is the small upside-down V that you type with Shift+6. Many people call it the hat or the power sign, because in Excel and on calculators 2^3 means "2 to the power of 3". It is said like the vegetable "carrot".
Copy the keyboard ^ from the box above, or tap the grid for the proofreading caret ‸, the insertion mark ⁁, the raised accent ˆ, the logic sign ∧ and the combining hat used to write ŷ. The Download PNG button saves a transparent image. Below, see what the ^ symbol means in maths, editing, languages and coding.
Caret as the "To the Power of" Symbol
Keyboards cannot type small raised numbers easily, so computers use ^ to show powers (exponents).
| Typed | Written in maths | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 2^3 | 2³ | 8 |
| 10^2 | 10² | 100 |
| 5^0 | 5⁰ | 1 |
| 9^(1/2) | √9 | 3 |
In Excel and Google Sheets: type =2^3 and press Enter to get 8. The POWER function does the same: =POWER(2,3). For compound interest style sums, a formula like =A2*(1+B2)^C2 raises the bracket to the power in C2.
In your notebook or a Word document: do not write 2^3. Write the small raised 3 instead. In Word, select the number and press Ctrl+Shift+= for superscript. For root signs, see our square root symbol page.
Other Meanings of the ^ Symbol
- Proofreading insert mark: teachers and editors write a caret below the line to show where a missing word goes, then write the word above it. The characters ‸ and ⁁ are the printed forms of this mark.
- Circumflex accent: in French and some other languages, a hat sits on a vowel, as in château and forêt. Some Hindi and Sanskrit transliteration styles also use â or û to show a long vowel.
- Y hat symbol (ŷ): in statistics, ŷ means the predicted value of y from a regression line. To make it, type y and then the combining hat: in Word, type y, then 0302, then press Alt+X.
- Programming: in C, Java, Python and many other languages, ^ is the XOR (exclusive or) operator, not a power. In Python, 2 ** 3 is the power; 2 ^ 3 gives 1.
- Search patterns: in regular expressions, ^ means "start of the line".
- Chats: ^ alone means "I agree with the message above", and ^_^ is a happy face.
The logic sign ∧ (logical AND) looks like a caret but is a different, larger character used in maths and logic. Our math symbols page lists it with the other logic signs.
How to Type the Caret Symbol
- Windows and Mac: Shift+6.
- Alt codes: Alt+94 for ^ and Alt+0136 for ˆ, on the number pad with Num Lock on.
- Word: type the code then Alt+X: 2038 for ‸, 2041 for ⁁, 2227 for ∧. You can also use Insert > Symbol.
- Google Docs: Insert > Special characters and search "caret" or "circumflex".
- Android: on most Android keyboards, tap ?123, then =\<.
- iPhone: tap 123, then #+=.
On some European keyboard layouts, ^ is a "dead key": nothing appears until you press the next key. Press it and then Space to get a plain ^, or press it and then a vowel to get â, ê and so on. If this happens on an Indian laptop, your keyboard layout has probably been switched; set it back to English (India) or US.
Caret vs Similar Symbols
| Symbol | Name | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| ^ | Caret | Keyboard character; powers in Excel, XOR in code |
| ˆ | Modifier circumflex | Smaller and higher; an accent shape |
| ‸ ⁁ | Proofreading carets | Sit low on the line to show an insertion point |
| ∧ | Logical and | Wide maths and logic sign |
| Λ | Greek capital lambda | A letter, not a symbol; see the lambda symbol page |
| ↑ | Up arrow | Direction; see the up arrow symbol page |
For names of all other keyboard keys, visit symbol names or the punctuation marks guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ^ symbol called?
It is called a caret. It is also known as the hat, and in accents it is called a circumflex. In Excel it works as the power or exponent sign.
What is the to the power of symbol on a keyboard?
Use the caret ^, typed with Shift+6. In Excel, =3^2 gives 9. In handwritten maths, write a small raised number instead.
How do I type the y hat symbol?
In Word, type y, then 0302, then press Alt+X. The combining hat attaches to the y and shows ŷ. You can also copy the combining mark from the grid and paste it right after a letter.
Is ^ the power operator in Python?
No. In Python and many other languages, ^ means XOR, a bit-level operation. Python uses ** for powers, so 2 ** 3 is 8.
What does a caret mean in corrected homework?
It shows that a word or letter is missing at that spot. The missing word is usually written just above the caret.