A caret binding a pattern to the start of a line.
At the front of a regular expression the caret matches the start of a line rather than any character. Inside a bracketed set it does something different again, negating the set.
POSIX defines the caret at the start of a pattern as an anchor matching the null string at the beginning of a line.
Contexts: Software
As the first character inside a bracket expression the same mark negates the set, matching any character not listed.
Contexts: Software
Carrying two unrelated jobs in one character is a recognised rough edge of the notation, and the position of the caret is the only thing distinguishing them.
Contexts: Software
Two short strokes meeting at a point at the top, opening downward, set at the height of a line of text.
Both are drawn as a bare upward chevron; one anchors a pattern, the other names a keyboard modifier.
Both are used in software contexts.