Semicolon

A dot above a comma, joining related clauses.

Keyboard & punctuationEveryday & digitalQuiet profile

Meanings

The semicolon links two independent clauses more closely than a full stop would. In programming it usually terminates a statement, a quite different job that has made it one of the most-typed characters in code.

Common modern usageVerified fact
Joins two independent clauses whose relationship is closer than separate sentences would suggest.
Contexts: Software
Common modern usageVerified fact
Separates items in a list whose entries already contain commas.
Contexts: Software
Common modern usageVerified fact
Terminates a statement in many programming languages, including C, Java and JavaScript.
Contexts: Software

Visual description

A dot positioned directly above a comma, the comma's tail curving down and to the left.

A fuller structured visual breakdown is not yet documented for this symbol.

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Sources

Unicode Code Chart: Basic Latin (U+0000–U+007F)
The Unicode Consortium · retrieved 2026-07-30
Authoritative for the character's code point, name and block only. Unicode assigns identity; it does not define what a symbol means in use.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

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Punctuation and keyboard marks

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Meanings

Common modern usageVerified fact

Joins two independent clauses whose relationship is closer than separate sentences would suggest.

Contexts: Software

Common modern usageVerified fact

Separates items in a list whose entries already contain commas.

Contexts: Software

Common modern usageVerified fact

Terminates a statement in many programming languages, including C, Java and JavaScript.

Contexts: Software

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.