Step 1: Determine the UTF-8 encoding bit layout
The character ‑ has the Unicode code point U+2011. In UTF-8, it is encoded using 3 bytes because its codepoint is in the range of
0x0800
to0xffff
.
Therefore we know that the UTF-8 encoding will be done over 16 bits within the final 24 bits and that it will have the format:1110xxxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx
Where thex
are the payload bits.UTF-8 Encoding bit layout by codepoint range Codepoint Range Bytes Bit pattern Payload length U+0000 - U+007F 1 0xxxxxxx 7 bits U+0080 - U+07FF 2 110xxxxx 10xxxxxx 11 bits U+0800 - U+FFFF 3 1110xxxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx 16 bits U+10000 - U+10FFFF 4 11110xxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx 21 bits Step 2: Obtain the payload bits:
Convert the hexadecimal code point U+2011 to binary:
00100000 00010001
. Those are the payload bits.Step 3: Fill in the bits to match the bit pattern:
Obtain the final bytes by arranging the paylod bits to match the bit layout:
11100010 10000000 10010001
NON-BREAKING HYPHEN·U+2011
Character Information
Character Representations
Click elements to copyEncoding | Hex | Binary |
---|---|---|
UTF8 | E2 80 91 | 11100010 10000000 10010001 |
UTF16 (big Endian) | 20 11 | 00100000 00010001 |
UTF16 (little Endian) | 11 20 | 00010001 00100000 |
UTF32 (big Endian) | 00 00 20 11 | 00000000 00000000 00100000 00010001 |
UTF32 (little Endian) | 11 20 00 00 | 00010001 00100000 00000000 00000000 |
Description
The Unicode character U+2011, known as the NON-BREAKING HYPHEN, plays a pivotal role in digital text formatting. Its primary function is to ensure that words separated by this symbol do not break across lines or pages when digital documents are being processed. This can be particularly useful in professional writing, where precise control over line breaks is necessary for maintaining the intended meaning and appearance of text. The NON-BREAKING HYPHEN is different from a standard hyphen as it is used to prevent breaking words at specific points, such as between compound words or proper names. For example, when writing "e-mail" in HTML code, one might use the non-breaking hyphen to ensure that "e" and "mail" don't get split across two lines or pages. While this character is most commonly used in English language texts, its application is not limited to any specific language or cultural context. The importance of line control for maintaining readability and meaning extends across all digital text formats. It's a technical feature that serves the needs of various linguistic structures and writing systems around the world. Despite being less visible to readers, the NON-BREAKING HYPHEN is an important tool in typography, underscoring the significance of invisible details in digital text formatting. It's a crucial character for professionals such as web developers, graphic designers, and editors who want control over the appearance of their text on screen or in print. In conclusion, while often overlooked, the Unicode character U+2011 or NON-BREAKING HYPHEN is a fundamental tool in digital typography. It provides control over word breaks and separations, ensuring clarity and readability across various languages and cultural contexts.
How to type the ‑ symbol on Windows
Hold Alt and type 8209 on the numpad. Or use Character Map.