Infinity symbol
Click the infinity symbol below to copy it, then paste it into a message, bio, document or design. The infinity symbol (∞) — often just called the infinite symbol — is the sideways figure-eight that stands for something with no end: it is the universal symbol for unlimited quantities, eternal love and endless possibility. This page collects the plain infinity symbol text, its Unicode cousins, and ready-made combos, with the meaning, the maths and every typing shortcut.
Fastest choice: the card above is the one-tap infinity symbol copy — plain ∞ (U+221E) as editable text, the form maths and documents expect.
Infinity symbol copy and paste — all the variants
Unicode holds a small family of infinity forms. This copy paste symbols infinity set covers all of them: the maths original, the permanent paper sign, the emoji form people use as an infinity emoticon, and the rare negated and tied forms used in logic:
Cool infinity symbol combos
For bios and dividers, repeat or frame the mark — a cool infinity symbol combo is just the plain character dressed up. Or double it up — the infinity symbol infinity symbol pair (∞∞) works as a divider on its own. Copy one of these ready-made pieces:
What the infinity symbol means
The English mathematician John Wallis introduced ∞ in 1655, in his work on conic sections. Why he chose the shape is not recorded — the usual theories point to the Roman numeral CIƆ (an old form of 1,000, used loosely for “a great many”) or to the ouroboros, the ancient snake eating its own tail. The curve itself has a name: a lemniscate, from the Latin for “ribbon” — the same loop shape appears in algebraic geometry.
In mathematics, ∞ is not a number but an idea: a quantity that grows beyond any bound. Limits run “from negative infinity to infinity”, integrals stretch to ∞, and set theory gives infinite sets their own cardinal numbers. The symbol marks a process that never terminates, not a very large result.
In everyday life, the loop means forever: infinity tattoos and jewellery promise endless love or friendship, brands use it for limitless plans and lifetime guarantees, and an infinity loop (often in gold or red) is the emblem many in the neurodiversity community prefer. In Indonesian and Malay the mark is called simbol selamanya — literally the “forever symbol” — which says the same thing.
Mathematicians also separate two flavours of the idea: potential infinity (a process that can always continue, like counting) and actual infinity (an endless set treated as a finished thing, like all the natural numbers at once — counted by the transfinite number ℵ₀, aleph-null). The one symbol ∞ serves both, which is part of its elegance.
On paper, the cousin ♾ (permanent paper sign) certifies acid-free paper that will not yellow or crumble — a small infinity promising a book will last.
Infinity symbol codes
| Format | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unicode | U+221E | Official name: INFINITY |
| HTML entity | ∞ | The named entity — easy to remember |
| HTML decimal | ∞ | Numeric form |
| CSS | \221E | For content: “\221E” |
| LaTeX | \infty | The maths-typesetting command |
| Word | 221E + Alt + X | Type the hex, then convert |
How to type the infinity symbol
Mac: hold Option and press 5 — the famous one-key shortcut, it types ∞ directly in most apps.
Windows: hold Alt and type 236 on the numeric keypad. (On some keyboard layouts this legacy code gives a different character — if so, copy ∞ from the grid above instead.)
Microsoft Word: type 221E and press Alt + X, or Insert → Symbol.
Phone: the emoji keyboard carries ♾️; for the plain text ∞, copy it from this page — one tap, and it stays text everywhere.
Explore more symbols
Infinity belongs to the math symbols family — browse the full collection there. It also pairs with the everyday marks in punctuation symbols, and the decorated versions live with the aesthetic symbols.
Frequently asked questions
How do I copy the infinity symbol?
Click or tap any card on this page — the symbol copies instantly. Then paste with Ctrl+V (Windows), Cmd+V (Mac) or long-press and Paste on mobile.
What is the difference between ∞ and ♾️?
∞ (U+221E) is the plain text infinity symbol used in maths and documents. ♾️ is the emoji presentation of the permanent paper sign (U+267E) — colourful and app-dependent, best for chats and social posts, not for formulas.
How do I type infinity on a Mac?
Hold Option and press 5. It is one of the few symbol shortcuts worth memorising — it works in nearly every Mac app.
Who invented the infinity symbol?
John Wallis, in 1655. The shape may echo the old Roman numeral for 1,000 or the ouroboros serpent, but Wallis never explained his choice — the symbol simply stuck because the loop says “no end” at a glance.
What does an infinity tattoo mean?
Usually eternal love, endless friendship or a bond with no end — the loop has no beginning and no finish, so wearers read it as “forever”. Paired with names, hearts or feathers it becomes a personal version of the same promise.