# What is this code called and is there a site out there that lists them all? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 8, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-code-called-and-is-there-a-site-out-there-that-lists-them-all/591936 "2011-08-08T12:46:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-code-called-and-is-there-a-site-out-there-that-lists-them-all/591936/1 "2011-08-08T12:46:19Z")
It’s where you hold down the alt key then type in some sort of number. Example: Alt+1190= ª alt+4756= ö ---
**Author:** ![SunSandSuffering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@SunSandSuffering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunSandSuffering)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-code-called-and-is-there-a-site-out-there-that-lists-them-all/591936/2 "2011-08-08T12:54:54Z")
On a Windows PC click: Start -\> Run -\> charmap -\> OK Select a font and click on a character, it will tell you the keystroke in the bottom right hand corner. ---
**Author:** ![Lungfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d78d45/32.png) [@Lungfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lungfish)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-code-called-and-is-there-a-site-out-there-that-lists-them-all/591936/3 "2011-08-08T12:55:09Z")
They are called “ALT-codes”. You can download them from this link: [Free Download - Complete list of Alt Codes](http://usefulshortcuts.com/alt-codes/complete-list-of-alt-codes.php) ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-code-called-and-is-there-a-site-out-there-that-lists-them-all/591936/4 "2011-08-08T12:55:17Z")
Alt codes, and [http://www.alt-codes.net/](http://www.alt-codes.net/) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-code-called-and-is-there-a-site-out-there-that-lists-them-all/591936/5 "2011-08-08T13:16:44Z")
Just google _alt codes_ and choose from a variety of sites listing them. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-code-called-and-is-there-a-site-out-there-that-lists-them-all/591936/6 "2011-08-08T13:26:44Z")
> [@Lungfish](#): > > They are called “ALT-codes”. > > You can download them from this link: [Free Download - Complete list of Alt Codes](http://usefulshortcuts.com/alt-codes/complete-list-of-alt-codes.php) This is a very complete list. > [@scudsucker](#): > > Alt codes, and [http://www.alt-codes.net/](http://www.alt-codes.net/) This one, no so complete. I cannot find (alt-0169), the copyright symbol (©), but thank you. There used to be a webpage with these, [Special Font Characters ALT Key Characters](http://www.1728.com/altchar.htm), which I was going to recommend, but it seems to be gone. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-code-called-and-is-there-a-site-out-there-that-lists-them-all/591936/7 "2011-08-08T15:52:07Z")
Actually, you should also look for “code pages”, which are the mappings between these codes and characters. There is more than just one mapping. Sometimes you see the names of these turn up when you are trying to look at text in an unusual way, for example I think “LATIN-1” is one you often see. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-code-called-and-is-there-a-site-out-there-that-lists-them-all/591936/8 "2011-08-08T17:50:55Z")
Note also that the numbers have to be typed on the numeric keypad (with NumLock turned on). The numbers on the top row won’t work. Also, on my keyboard at least you have to use the _left_ Alt key. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-code-called-and-is-there-a-site-out-there-that-lists-them-all/591936/9 "2011-08-08T22:07:29Z")
Re; the first part of your question, it is called Unicode, there are several versions. One can be found at [Unicode Chart](http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~tomw/java/unicode.html). Note the right hand column of the first page for an index and idea of the scope of Unicode. I’m not sure, I don’t think Chinese is in this chart. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-code-called-and-is-there-a-site-out-there-that-lists-them-all/591936/10 "2011-08-08T22:18:41Z")
Here’s something bizarre: Type in [www.♣.com](http://www.xn--e6h.com). The symbol is made by pressing alt-5. Look what it brings up. How did they register that as a domain?