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Subscript Symbol (₂)

Every subscript in one grid — the small digits ₀₁₂ and letters ₐₑₕ used in chemistry (H₂O), maths (x₁, x₂) and phonetics, click to copy.

₂

Subscript Two · U+2082 · Math Symbols

Click the symbol or the button to copy it, then paste it anywhere — documents, messages, bios and code.

Subscript codes

Code	Value
Unicode code point	`U+2082`
Unicode name	`Subscript Two`
HTML named entity	None — use the decimal or hex code below
HTML decimal	`₂`
HTML hex	`₂`
CSS content code	`\2082`
JavaScript / JSON	`\u2082`
Windows Alt code	No standard Alt code — copy it from the card above

Subscript variants (27)

27 related glyphs — click any tile to copy it. Tiles with a page open that symbol's own page.

₀Subscript Zero₁Subscript One₃Subscript Three₄Subscript Four₅Subscript Five₆Subscript Six₇Subscript Seven₈Subscript Eight₉Subscript Nine₊Subscript Plus Sign₋Subscript Minus₌Subscript Equals Sign₍Subscript Left Parenthesis₎Subscript Right ParenthesisₐLatin Subscript Small Letter AₑLatin Subscript Small Letter EₒLatin Subscript Small Letter OₓLatin Subscript Small Letter XₔLatin Subscript Small Letter SchwaₕLatin Subscript Small Letter HₖLatin Subscript Small Letter KₗLatin Subscript Small Letter LₘLatin Subscript Small Letter MₙLatin Subscript Small Letter NₚLatin Subscript Small Letter PₛLatin Subscript Small Letter SₜLatin Subscript Small Letter T

Meaning & usage

Subscripts are small characters that sit below the baseline, and Unicode provides real ones because formatting is not always available: a chemical formula typed as H₂O in a chat, a status update, or a username must use the actual subscript characters, since plain text has no 'lower and smaller' button. The digits ₀–₉ cover formulas and series (a₁, a₂, a₃), the operators ₊ ₋ ₌ ₍ ₎ build small expressions, and a short set of subscript letters (ₐ ₑ ₕ ᵢ...

in the grid as ₐₑₒₓₔₕₖₗₘₙₚₛₜ) serves phonetics and algebra. Not every letter exists as a true subscript — Unicode never made b, c, d, f, g, q, r, u, v, w, y or z subscripts — so where a letter is missing, real formatting in a word processor is the honest answer rather than a lookalike.

Examples in use

H₂O and CO₂ — chemistry with real subscripts
The sequence a₁, a₂, a₃ … aₙ
log₂(8) = 3 (base-2 logarithm)

How to type the subscript

Windows

There is no Alt code or direct key for ₂. In Microsoft Word, type 2082 and press Alt+X to convert it. Everywhere else, click the Copy button at the top of this page and paste it (Ctrl+V) — that always works.

Mac

There is no Option-key shortcut for ₂ on a Mac. Open the Character Viewer with Control+Command+Space, search for "Subscript", and double-click to insert — or copy it from this page.

iPhone & Android

Most phone keyboards have no built-in key for ₂. Open this page on your phone, tap Copy, then paste it into your message or bio. (On Android, Gboard's emoji search finds some symbols by name.)

Linux

Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 2082 and press Enter (works in most GTK apps and terminals with IBus). Or copy it from this page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I type subscript ₂ on a keyboard?

There is no key for it. Copy ₂ (or any subscript) from the grid on this page and paste it; in Word and Google Docs you can also format a normal 2 with Format → Text → Subscript.

Why is there no subscript b or d?

Unicode only encoded the subscript letters that were needed for phonetic transcription and established notation. The missing letters were never standardised, so no genuine character exists for them.

Do subscripts work in usernames and bios?

Usually yes — they are ordinary Unicode characters. A few apps normalise or strip unusual characters, so test with one character first.

Why does ₂ sometimes show as a box or question mark?

The box (called tofu) means the device or font viewing it has no drawing for U+2082 (Subscript Two). The character itself is fine — try a different font or a newer device, or use one of the variants on this page.

Is the Subscript free to use?

Yes. ₂ is a standard Unicode text character published in the Unicode Character Database. You may use it in personal and commercial documents, designs and products without permission or payment.