Step 1: Determine the UTF-8 encoding bit layout
The character ☃ has the Unicode code point U+2603. In UTF-8, it is encoded using 3 bytes because its codepoint is in the range of
0x0800to0xffff.
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 thexare 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+2603 to binary:
00100110 00000011. 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 10011000 10000011
SNOWMAN·U+2603
☃
Character Information
Code Point
U+2603
HEX
2603
Unicode Plane
Basic Multilingual Plane
Category
Other Symbol
Character Representations
Click elements to copy| Encoding | Hex | Binary |
|---|---|---|
| UTF8 | E2 98 83 | 11100010 10011000 10000011 |
| UTF16 (big Endian) | 26 03 | 00100110 00000011 |
| UTF16 (little Endian) | 03 26 | 00000011 00100110 |
| UTF32 (big Endian) | 00 00 26 03 | 00000000 00000000 00100110 00000011 |
| UTF32 (little Endian) | 03 26 00 00 | 00000011 00100110 00000000 00000000 |
HTML Entity
☃
URI Encoded
%E2%98%83
Description
The Unicode character U+2603 represents the "SNOWMAN" emblem. It is commonly used in digital text to symbolize snowmen, which are popular wintertime recreational activities or decorations in many cultures around the world. In typography and linguistic contexts, this character provides an easy way for users to visually express a snowman without having to type out a description of one. The character is part of the Miscellaneous Symbols block within the Unicode Standard, and is often employed in digital communications, social media posts, and various applications where a visual representation of a snowman is needed. While its usage may seem trivial or whimsical, it has an important role in enabling a more diverse range of expressions for users worldwide, reflecting the versatility and inclusivity of Unicode.
How to type the ☃ symbol on Windows
Hold Alt and type 9731 on the numpad. Or use Character Map.