U+2229 · Math symbol
HTML entity
∩
LaTeX
\cap
Intersection Symbol ∩
∩ is intersection, U+2229. Unicode also records it as “cap”. It was added in Unicode 1.1, and Unicode files it under Math symbol.
Also known as
- cap
- hat
Codes & technical data
| Unicode | U+2229 | |
|---|---|---|
| HTML hex | ∩ | |
| HTML decimal | ∩ | |
| CSS | \2229 | |
| JavaScript | \u{2229} | |
| Python | \U00002229 | |
| Java / C# | \u2229 | |
| Rust | \u{2229} | |
| Swift | \u{2229} | |
| PHP | \u{2229} | |
| URL encoded | %E2%88%A9 | |
| UTF-8 bytes | E2 88 A9 | |
| UTF-16 bytes | 2229 | |
| Base64 | 4oip | |
| Decimal | 8745 | |
| HTML entity | ∩ | |
| LaTeX | \cap | |
| Category | Math symbol (Sm) | |
| Introduced | Unicode 1.1 | |
Will ∩ survive being pasted?
- Normalisation. Yes. ∩ is unchanged by NFKC, so it survives normalising systems intact.
- Legacy encodings. ∩ is Unicode-only — it has no Latin-1 equivalent, so a system stuck on an 8-bit encoding cannot represent it.
- Size. 3 bytes in UTF-8. Character-limited fields — SMS, bios, some form validators — usually count bytes, not characters.
Unicode cross-references
The standard points readers of ∩ at these characters — usually because they look alike, or because one is the correct choice where the other is often used by mistake.
Other intersection characters
Unicode names 8 characters ending in “intersection”. They differ by direction, weight or decoration rather than by meaning.
Nearby in Mathematical Operators
The operators mathematics and programming share — set theory, logic, calculus, comparison. Almost every character here has a LaTeX command, which is usually the fastest way to name the one you mean.
How to type ∩
| Windows | Type 2229 then press Alt+X |
|---|---|
| macOS | Press Ctrl+Cmd+Space, then search for “intersection” |
| Linux | Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 2229, press Enter |
| HTML | ∩ |
About Unicode’s Math symbol category
Unicode classifies this as a mathematical symbol, which means software that lays out formulas treats it as an operator or relation and gives it spacing accordingly, rather than setting it tight against its neighbours like a letter.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I type the ∩ intersection symbol?
- On Windows, type 2229 and press Alt+X. On Linux press Ctrl+Shift+U then 2229. On any system the quickest route is the copy button on this page.
- What is the code for ∩?
- Intersection is U+2229, written in HTML as ∩ and in LaTeX as \cap. In UTF-8 it takes 3 bytes. The table above lists every escape format.
- What kind of character is ∩?
- Intersection is filed under Math symbol in the Mathematical Operators block, and was introduced in Unicode 1.1. Unicode classifies this as a mathematical symbol, which means software that lays out formulas treats it as an operator or relation and gives it spacing accordingly, rather than setting it tight against its neighbours like a letter.