keycap: #

What does keycap: # mean?

The #️⃣ emoji depicts a hash symbol—often referred to as a pound sign or number sign—encased within a square button. It is designed to resemble a physical key on a traditional telephone keypad or a computer keyboard. Its primary meaning revolves around indicating numbers, phone dialing actions, or the pervasive concept of social media hashtags. In digital communication, this emoji frequently appears when users want to emphasize a ranking, such as celebrating a "Number One" victory. It is also playfully utilized to spell out invisible hashtags in everyday text messages, visually signaling to the reader that a specific phrase is a trending topic, a shared cultural movement, or a highly relatable sentiment.

Slang & Modern Usage

In internet slang, the #️⃣ emoji is often deployed ironically or emphatically to create a "spoken hashtag." Instead of relying on the standard text character (#), texters drop the emoji to make the concept visually pop, especially for comedic or dramatic effect (e.g., "feeling completely exhausted today #️⃣relatable"). It serves as a visual punchline for Gen Z and millennial users summarizing a chaotic story into a single buzzword. Additionally, it frequently pops up in sports and stan culture alongside digits to declare total supremacy, as seen in phrases like "#️⃣1 fan" or "#️⃣1 album." In some niche aesthetics, it is paired with other keycap emojis to mimic the act of entering a passcode or mashing the pound key to skip an annoying automated phone menu.

Emoji Combos

Platform Differences

Across most platforms, the #️⃣ emoji appears as a white hash symbol on a blue rounded square. The level of 3D shading varies, with Apple featuring a prominent, glossy button-like effect, while Microsoft and Google opt for flatter designs.

Technical Information

Unicode U+0023 U+FE0F U+20E3
HTML Entity #️⃣
CSS \0023\FE0F\20E3
JavaScript \u{0023}\u{FE0F}\u{20E3}
Unicode Version Unicode 0.6
Status Fully-qualified

Shortcodes

github

:hash:

discord

:hash:

slack

:hash:

Related Emojis

*️⃣ keycap: * 0️⃣ keycap: 0 1️⃣ keycap: 1 2️⃣ keycap: 2 3️⃣ keycap: 3 4️⃣ keycap: 4 5️⃣ keycap: 5 6️⃣ keycap: 6

Tags

Numbers Trending Keypad Tech Internet Culture Typography Irony Hashtag Ranking Social Media

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the #️⃣ emoji mean?
The #️⃣ emoji represents a hash symbol, number sign, or pound key on a telephone. It is widely used to indicate a social media hashtag, denote a numerical ranking, or simulate a physical keypad button.
Why do people use the #️⃣ emoji instead of the regular # symbol?
The emoji version adds visual weight and emphasis to a message. Users choose it to make a hashtag stand out playfully in a block of text or to create a colorful, retro keypad aesthetic.
How do you use the #️⃣ emoji in a text?
Place it right before a word to act as a visually striking, dramatic hashtag. You can also use it immediately before a digit to indicate a ranking or placement, like "#️⃣1".