Step 1: Determine the UTF-8 encoding bit layout
The character ⌥ has the Unicode code point U+2325. 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+2325 to binary:
00100011 00100101. 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 10001100 10100101
OPTION KEY·U+2325
⌥
Character Information
Code Point
U+2325
HEX
2325
Unicode Plane
Basic Multilingual Plane
Category
Other Symbol
Character Representations
Click elements to copy| Encoding | Hex | Binary |
|---|---|---|
| UTF8 | E2 8C A5 | 11100010 10001100 10100101 |
| UTF16 (big Endian) | 23 25 | 00100011 00100101 |
| UTF16 (little Endian) | 25 23 | 00100101 00100011 |
| UTF32 (big Endian) | 00 00 23 25 | 00000000 00000000 00100011 00100101 |
| UTF32 (little Endian) | 25 23 00 00 | 00100101 00100011 00000000 00000000 |
HTML Entity
⌥
URI Encoded
%E2%8C%A5
Description
The Unicode character U+2325 represents the OPTION key on digital devices. This key is primarily used in text entry systems to toggle between different modes of input or to access a menu of available options. It often serves as an alternative to using function keys or menus, streamlining user interactions with software or hardware. The character is widely employed across various operating systems and applications, ensuring compatibility and usability for users worldwide. While the OPTION key may not have a specific cultural, linguistic, or technical context due to its universal application, it plays a crucial role in user interface design and accessibility features.
How to type the ⌥ symbol on Windows
Hold Alt and type 8997 on the numpad. Or use Character Map.