Asterisk Emoji

Symbols

A classic six-pointed star shape, modeled after the physical asterisk key found on standard telephone handsets and computer keyboards.

Usage Context

Used widely in text messaging to denote corrections, emphasize a word, or represent a redaction in profanity. In coding and data entry, it acts as a wildcard or a multiplier. It is frequently grouped with # for automated phone menu prompts.

History

The word comes from the Greek 'asteriskos', meaning 'little star'. While it has been a staple in typography for centuries to mark footnotes, it became a core component of early telecommunications systems when telephone keypads were standardized with the # and asterisk buttons in the 1960s.

Details

Glyph

Unicode

U+002A

Shortcode

:emoji_u002a:

HTML Entity

Specifications

Vendor Microsoft

Category Symbols

Subcategory math-symbol

Unicode Version 6.0

Emoji Version 1.0

License MIT

Microsoft Fluent License

Emoji graphics by Microsoft. © Microsoft Corporation. Licensed under MIT. Excludes assets such as Clippy, flags, and trademarks.

Microsoft Fluent Emoji assets are licensed under the MIT License. Certain assets—such as Clippy, country flags, and Microsoft product/brand trademarks—are excluded from this license and may not be used without separate permission.

MIT License Fluent Emoji Repository