U+00BD · Latin-1 Supplement
One Half Fraction ½
The one-half fraction is a single character for 1/2, used in recipes, clothing and shoe sizes, measurements, and ages. It is one of the most common precomposed fractions and is easy to read at a glance in menus, product labels, and spreadsheets. Screen readers typically announce it as 'one half'.
Character codes
| Unicode code point | U+00BD | |
|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 189 | |
| HTML named entity | ½ | |
| HTML (hex) | ½ | |
| HTML (decimal) | ½ | |
| CSS | \00BD | |
| JavaScript | \u00BD | |
| Python | \u00BD | |
| UTF-8 bytes | C2 BD | |
| UTF-16 | 00BD | |
| URL-encoded | %C2%BD |
Character details
| Official name | VULGAR FRACTION ONE HALF |
|---|---|
| Unicode block | Latin-1 Supplement |
| General category | Other Number (No) |
| SymbolHero category | Fractions |
| Decomposition | <fraction> U+0031 U+2044 U+0032 |
| Emoji | No |
How to type ½
Windows
- Hold Alt and type 171 on the numeric keypad (Num Lock on), then release Alt. Alt 171 uses the code page 437.
- Hold Alt and type 0189 on the numeric keypad (Num Lock on), then release Alt. Alt 0189 uses the Windows-1252 code page.
- In Microsoft Word or Outlook: type
00BDthen press Alt + X. - Open Character Map (search “Character Map” in Start), tick “Advanced view”, search for “vulgar fraction one half”, then Select and Copy.
Mac
- Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search “vulgar fraction one half”, and double-click the result.
- With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), hold Option and type
00BD.
iPhone & Android
- Tap Copy at the top of this page, then long-press where you want it and choose Paste.
Docs & web
- Google Docs: Insert → Special characters, then search “vulgar fraction one half” or enter
U+00BD. - HTML:
½or½ - Excel / Google Sheets:
=UNICHAR(189)
Examples
- ½ cup milk
- Shoe size 9½
- 2½ hours
- ½ price today
Good to know
Don’t mix it up: Often confused with the typed sequence 1/2, and with the fraction slash ⁄ (U+2044) combined with superscript and subscript digits.
Tip: When a whole number precedes it, write them without a space (2½), since a space can suggest two separate numbers.
Display: the character itself is always the same code point, but its shape comes from the font on the device showing it. If you see an empty box, the font lacks this glyph—the text is still correct.
Similar fractions
Questions
What is the Unicode for ½?
It is U+00BD (VULGAR FRACTION ONE HALF), decimal 189.
Is there a Windows Alt code for it?
Yes: Alt 171 or Alt 0189 on the numeric keypad.
How do I type it on a Mac?
There is no built-in Option shortcut. Use the Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space) and search “vulgar fraction one half”, or copy it from this page.
What is the HTML code?
Use the named entity ½ or the numeric reference ½.