Superscript Two Copy and Paste Alt Code Unicode Keyboard Shortcuts

The Superscript Two (²) symbol is widely used in mathematics, science, engineering, and everyday writing to represent a number squared or raised to the power of two. Whether you need to copy and paste the symbol, type it using a keyboard shortcut, find its Alt code, or use it in HTML, CSS, or LaTeX, this guide covers everything in one place.

You’ll also learn the difference between 2 and ², where the symbol is commonly used, and how to insert it on Windows, Mac, mobile devices, and popular applications like Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

Copy and Paste Superscript Two (²)

Need the symbol quickly? Simply copy it below.

Copy Symbol

²

Copy and Paste: ²

Quick Facts

Property	Value
Symbol	²
Name	Superscript Two
Unicode	U+00B2
HTML Entity	²
HTML Code	²
CSS Escape	\00B2
Windows Alt Code	Alt + 0178
Category	Superscript Character
Common Uses	Mathematics, Exponents, Area Units, Footnotes

What Is the Superscript Two (²) Symbol?

The Superscript 2 (²) is a special Unicode character displayed slightly above the normal text baseline. It represents the number 2 written as an exponent and is most commonly used to indicate that a value is squared.

For example:

• 5² = 25
• x²
• a² + b² = c²

Unlike the regular number 2, the superscript version is smaller and positioned above the text. This makes it ideal for expressing mathematical notation, scientific formulas, references, and measurement units.

Why Is It Called Superscript Two?

The word superscript means a character written slightly above the normal line of text. Since this character represents the number 2 in superscript form, it is known as Superscript Two.

It is one of several superscript characters available in Unicode, alongside Superscript One (¹) and Superscript Three (³).

Difference Between 2 and ²

2	²
Standard number	Superscript character
Normal text size	Smaller and raised
Used for counting	Used for exponents and squared values
Regular numeral	Mathematical notation

For example:

• 2 apples means two apples.
• 5² means five multiplied by itself (5 × 5 = 25).

Unicode Introduction

The Superscript Two symbol is assigned the Unicode value U+00B2. Unicode is an international character encoding standard that allows the symbol to display consistently across operating systems, browsers, applications, and devices.

Because it is a Unicode character, you can safely use ² in:

• Websites
• Documents
• Emails
• Mobile apps
• Programming projects
• Social media posts

Common Uses of the Superscript Two 2(²)

Although many people associate ² only with mathematics, it has several practical applications across different fields.

Mathematics (Squares and Exponents)

This is the most common use.

The superscript two indicates that a number or variable should be multiplied by itself.

Examples:

• 4² = 16
• x²
• y²
• (a + b)²

It frequently appears in:

• Algebra
• Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Calculus
• Statistics

Science and Physics

Scientists and physicists use ² in formulas involving squared values.

Examples include:

• Velocity calculations
• Acceleration equations
• Newton’s laws
• Energy formulas
• Scientific constants

You’ll often see expressions such as:

• m/s²
• r²
• c²

Units of Measurement (m², cm², km²)

One of the most familiar uses is for measuring area.

Examples:

Unit	Meaning
m²	Square meter
cm²	Square centimeter
km²	Square kilometer
ft²	Square foot
in²	Square inch

These units are commonly used in:

• Construction
• Architecture
• Real estate
• Interior design
• Land surveying
• Geography

Footnotes and References

Some publications use superscript numbers as reference markers.

Example:

The experiment was repeated²

The superscript directs readers to a note, citation, or additional explanation elsewhere in the document.

Although many citation styles use sequential superscript numbers, ² can also appear as part of that numbering system.

Chemistry and Engineering

In chemistry and engineering, superscript notation appears in equations, calculations, and technical documentation.

Examples include:

• Voltage equations
• Pressure formulas
• Engineering calculations
• Scientific reports

Note: Do not confuse the superscript ² with the subscript in chemical formulas such as CO₂. In CO₂, the 2 is written below the baseline to indicate two oxygen atoms, while ² is written above the baseline and usually represents an exponent.

Why the Superscript Two Symbol Is Important

The Superscript Two (²) symbol makes mathematical and scientific writing easier to read and understand. Instead of writing “raised to the power of two,” a single character communicates the same meaning clearly and professionally.

Whether you’re solving equations, measuring land, preparing academic documents, or creating web content, ² remains one of the most commonly used special characters in modern writing.

Superscript Two (²) Alt Code, Unicode and Character Codes

If you frequently work with special characters, programming languages, or documents, knowing the different character codes for the Superscript Two (²) symbol can save time. The table below includes the most commonly used codes across operating systems and web technologies.

Character Codes for Superscript Two (²)

Property	Value
Symbol	²
Unicode Name	Superscript Two
Unicode	U+00B2
Unicode Hex	U+00B2
Unicode Decimal	178
HTML Entity	²
HTML Decimal Code	²
HTML Hex Code	²
CSS Escape	\00B2
JavaScript Unicode Escape	\u00B2
Windows Alt Code	Alt + 0178
UTF-8 Hex	C2 B2
Category	Superscript Character

Note: The ² symbol is part of the Unicode character set and extended Latin-1 (ISO-8859-1). It is not included in the original 7-bit ASCII character set.

How to Type the Superscript Two Symbol on Any Device

There are several ways to type ², depending on your device and operating system.

Windows Keyboard

Windows users can insert the symbol using the Alt Code.

Method 1: Alt Code

1. Turn on Num Lock.
2. Hold the Alt key.
3. Type 0178 on the numeric keypad.
4. Release the Alt key.

Result:

²

Method 2: Character Map

1. Open Character Map.
2. Search for Superscript Two.
3. Copy and paste the symbol into your document.

Mac

macOS does not have a universal keyboard shortcut dedicated to ², but you can insert it in several ways.

Option 1

Use the Character Viewer:

1. Press Control + Command + Space.
2. Search for Superscript Two.
3. Double-click ² to insert it.

Option 2

Copy and paste:

²

Chromebook

On a Chromebook, the easiest methods are:

• Copy and paste ²
• Use the Emoji & Symbols picker (if available)
• Insert it through Google Docs’ Special Characters feature

Linux

Most Linux distributions support Unicode input.

One common method is:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + U
2. Type 00b2
3. Press Enter or Space

The symbol ² will appear.

Keyboard shortcuts can vary slightly depending on your Linux distribution and desktop environment.

Android

Typing ² on Android depends on your keyboard app.

Common methods include:

• Long-press the number 2 (supported by some keyboards)
• Open the symbols panel
• Copy and paste the symbol

²

iPhone and iPad

iOS does not include a dedicated superscript keyboard key.

You can:

• Copy and paste ²
• Create a Text Replacement shortcut in Settings
• Use a third-party keyboard that supports superscript characters

Many users create a shortcut like:

• Shortcut: sq2
• Replacement: ²

Typing sq2 will automatically insert the superscript character.

How to Insert Superscript Two (²) in Popular Applications

Different applications offer different ways to insert superscript characters. Here are the easiest methods.

Microsoft Word

Method 1: Alt Code

Hold Alt and type 0178 on the numeric keypad.

Method 2: Symbol Menu

1. Go to Insert.
2. Select Symbol.
3. Choose More Symbols.
4. Locate Superscript Two (²).
5. Click Insert.

Method 3: Copy and Paste

Simply copy:

²

Google Docs

Google Docs provides multiple options.

Method 1

Copy and paste:

²

Method 2

1. Click Insert.
2. Select Special Characters.
3. Search for Superscript Two.
4. Click the symbol to insert it.

Method 3

Use Format → Text → Superscript if you’re formatting an existing number instead of inserting the Unicode character.

Microsoft Excel

You can insert ² in Excel by:

• Copying and pasting the symbol
• Using Alt + 0178
• Formatting a cell with superscript (for part of the text)

Examples:

• m²
• cm²
• km²

These are commonly used in spreadsheets for engineering, surveying, and property calculations.

Microsoft PowerPoint

To insert the symbol in PowerPoint:

• Use Alt + 0178
• Copy and paste ²
• Insert it through the Symbol menu

This is useful for presentations involving mathematics, science, and technical diagrams.

Microsoft Outlook

When composing emails, you can insert ² by:

• Pressing Alt + 0178
• Copying and pasting the character
• Using the Insert → Symbol option

It works well for writing measurements like m² or mathematical expressions.

Canva

Canva doesn’t provide a dedicated superscript button in all design contexts, but adding ² is still simple.

Method 1

Copy and paste:

²

Method 2

Use a font that fully supports Unicode superscript characters.

This is especially useful for:

• Educational graphics
• Infographics
• Posters
• Social media designs
• Presentations

Quick Device Reference

Device or App	Best Method
Windows	Alt + 0178
Mac	Character Viewer
Chromebook	Copy & Paste or Special Characters
Linux	Ctrl + Shift + U → 00b2
Android	Long-press 2 (if supported) or Copy & Paste
iPhone & iPad	Copy & Paste or Text Replacement
Microsoft Word	Alt Code or Insert Symbol
Google Docs	Special Characters
Excel	Alt Code or Copy & Paste
PowerPoint	Alt Code or Symbol Menu
Outlook	Alt Code or Symbol Menu
Canva	Copy & Paste

How to Use Superscript Two (²) in HTML, CSS, JavaScript and LaTeX

Developers, students, and web designers often need to display the Superscript Two (²) symbol in websites, applications, and documents. Below are the most common methods.

HTML

You can insert the ² symbol in HTML using either the named entity or the numeric character reference.

Named HTML Entity

²

Decimal HTML Code

²

Hexadecimal HTML Code

²

Output

²

Tip: The named entity ² is the simplest and most readable option for HTML pages.

CSS

In CSS, use the Unicode escape sequence inside the content property.

.square::after {

    content: “\00B2”;

}

Example output:

m²

JavaScript

You can insert the symbol directly or use its Unicode escape sequence.

const superscriptTwo = “\u00B2”;

console.log(superscriptTwo);

Output:

²

You can also concatenate it with text.

const area = “25 m\u00B2”;

console.log(area);

Output:

25 m²

LaTeX

LaTeX offers two common approaches depending on your needs.

For mathematical expressions:

x^2

Output:

x²

For plain text:

\textsuperscript{2}

Output:

²

Markdown (Optional)

Markdown itself doesn’t support superscript in the original specification.

Depending on the platform, you can:

• Copy and paste ²
• Use inline HTML

Example:

Area = 25 m²

or simply

25 m²

Examples of the Superscript Two Symbol (²)

The Superscript Two character appears in mathematics, science, engineering, education, and technical writing. Here are some practical examples.

Mathematical Examples

Expression	Meaning
5² = 25	Five squared
9² = 81	Nine squared
x²	x raised to the power of two
y²	y squared
a² + b² = c²	Pythagorean theorem

Measurement Units

Area measurements commonly use ².

Examples:

• 20 m²
• 350 cm²
• 12 km²
• 500 ft²
• 45 in²

These units represent square units, not simple lengths.

Algebra Expressions

Examples include:

• x² + 4x + 4
• (a + b)²
• r²π
• y = x²

These expressions are common in algebra, geometry, and calculus.

Engineering Examples

Engineers frequently use superscript notation in:

• Structural calculations
• Area measurements
• Mechanical formulas
• Civil engineering drawings
• Architectural plans

Examples:

• Stress per m²
• Load calculations
• Cross-sectional area

Physics Examples

The symbol appears in many well-known formulas.

Examples:

• m/s² (acceleration)
• E = mc²
• r²
• v²

These formulas are widely used in mechanics and physics.

Chemistry Note

Many people confuse superscript and subscript characters.

Example:

CO₂

The 2 in CO₂ is a subscript, meaning it appears below the text baseline.

By contrast:

x²

uses a superscript, which appears above the baseline.

Although both are Unicode characters, they serve different purposes.

Conclusion

The Superscript Two (²) symbol is a small character with many important uses. From writing mathematical equations and scientific formulas to expressing square meters (m²) and using exponents, it plays a key role in academic, technical, and professional writing.

In this guide, you’ve learned how to copy and paste the symbol, use its Alt Code, find its Unicode value, insert it on different devices, and implement it in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and LaTeX. Whether you’re a student, teacher, developer, engineer, or designer, knowing these methods makes working with the Superscript Two (²) symbol faster and more efficient.

Whenever you need the symbol again, simply copy ² from this page and use it anywhere with confidence.

FAQs

What does ² mean?

The ² symbol means “raised to the power of two” or “squared.” It indicates that a number or variable should be multiplied by itself.

How do I type ² on a keyboard?

On Windows, hold the Alt key and type 0178 on the numeric keypad. On other devices, you can use built-in symbol tools or simply copy and paste ².

What is the Alt Code for ²?

The Windows Alt Code for the Superscript Two symbol is Alt + 0178.

What is the Unicode for ²?

The Unicode value for Superscript Two is U+00B2.

Is ² the same as exponent 2?

Yes. The ² symbol represents an exponent of two and indicates that a value is squared.

Can I type ² on a phone?

Yes. You can copy and paste ², use a keyboard that supports superscript characters, or create a text replacement shortcut on your device.

How do I copy and paste ²?

Highlight the symbol below, copy it, and paste it wherever you need it.

²

Where is ² used?

The Superscript Two symbol is used in mathematics, science, engineering, physics, area measurements, academic writing, and technical documentation.

Related Superscript and Number Symbols

If you’re looking for similar symbols, these are also commonly used in mathematics and technical writing.

Symbol	Name	Common Use
¹	Superscript One	Exponents, footnotes
²	Superscript Two	Squared values
³	Superscript Three	Cubed values
°	Degree Symbol	Temperature and angles
±	Plus Minus Symbol	Mathematical operations
√	Square Root Symbol	Mathematics
∞	Infinity Symbol	Mathematics and science
¼ ½ ¾	Fraction Symbols	Measurements and calculations
₁ ₂ ₃	Subscript Numbers	Chemistry and formulas

These related symbols can also help expand your knowledge of Unicode characters, special characters, and mathematical notation.