What Does the § (Section Sign) Mean? History & Usage
The § (section sign) is a typographical character primarily used to reference a specific section of a written document, such as a legal code or statute. Often referred to as the "double S," the symbol originates from the Latin phrase signum sectionis (meaning "sign of a section") and looks like two interconnected letter S's. You will most commonly spot it in dense reference materials, textbooks, and the fine print of legal contracts.
Historically, scribes created this symbol by drawing two S characters overlapping each other. It served as a quick visual shorthand to help readers navigate long manuscripts before modern indexing systems existed. Today, it remains a staple in typography and law. When referencing multiple sections, writers double the symbol to create §§, just like doubling a "p" for pages (pp.).
In the digital age, the section sign pops up in some unexpected places. Gamers instantly recognize the § symbol from The Sims franchise, where it serves as the official currency sign for "Simoleons." In the hit game Minecraft, players use the section sign alongside a number or letter to format text colors and styles on server signs and in chat logs. It also surfaces in programming and web design as a unique delimiter or a stylish, custom bullet point.
In the Unicode standard, the section sign is assigned the code point U+00A7 and lives in the Latin-1 Supplement block. It is a foundational character, meaning it has been supported across almost all fonts and operating systems since the early days of computing.
Typing the section sign is straightforward across different devices. On a Mac keyboard, simply press Option + 6. On Windows, hold down the Alt key and type 0167 or 21 on the numeric keypad. If you are typing on an iOS or Android smartphone, switch to the numbers and symbols keyboard, then tap and hold the ampersand (&) or the letter "s" to reveal the § symbol as a pop-up option.
A close relative to the section sign is the ¶ (pilcrow), which represents an individual paragraph rather than an entire section. While the pilcrow marks a hard return or a new thought, the § organizes larger chunks of a document, keeping long texts properly structured and easy to reference.