Alpha Symbol (α)

Copy the Alpha symbol α to your clipboard, and see its Unicode code point, HTML entity, LaTeX command and how to type it on any device.

What does α mean?

Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, is one of the most reused symbols in science. It denotes angles and angular acceleration, coefficients in equations, the significance level in statistics (often 0.05), the fine‑structure constant in physics, and alpha particles (helium nuclei) in nuclear physics. α is the lowercase form of Alpha, letter 1 of 24 in the Greek alphabet (pronounced AL-fa). Its capital counterpart is Α. In science and maths it is used for: Angles, angular acceleration, significance level (α), alpha particles.

Codes and properties

Character	α
Unicode name	GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA
Code point	U+03B1
Decimal	945
Unicode block	Greek and Coptic
HTML entity	α · α · α
CSS	\03B1
JavaScript / JSON	\u03B1
Python	\u03B1 or \N{GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA}
UTF-8 bytes	CE B1
LaTeX	\alpha

How to type α

Copy & paste: press the Copy button above, then paste α anywhere — Word, Google Docs, email, chat or code.
Windows (Word, WordPad, Outlook): type 03B1 then press Alt+X. In any app, Win+. opens the symbol panel.
Windows Alt code: hold Alt and type 224 on the numeric keypad (Num Lock on), then release Alt. Works in Word, Notepad and most desktop apps.
Mac (any symbol): switch to the Unicode Hex Input keyboard, hold Option and type 03B1; or press Ctrl+Cmd+Space and search “greek small letter alpha”.
Linux (GTK/IBus): press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 03b1, then Space.
HTML: α renders as α.
LaTeX: \alpha in math mode (amssymb package for some symbols).

Frequently asked questions

What does α mean in statistics?

It is the significance level — the probability of a Type I error (a false positive), commonly set to 0.05.

Is α used for angles?

Yes. Along with β and θ, alpha is a standard label for angles in geometry and trigonometry.

How do I type α on Windows?

In Microsoft Word type 03B1 and press Alt+X. In any app press Win+. to open the symbol panel, or copy α from this page. You can also hold Alt and type 224 on the numeric keypad.

How do I type α on a Mac?

Open the Character Viewer with Ctrl+Cmd+Space and search “greek small letter alpha”, or switch to Unicode Hex Input and hold Option while typing 03B1.

What is the HTML code for α?

Use α or α (hex) or α (decimal).

What is the LaTeX command for α?

Use \alpha in math mode.

Keep exploring

Reference: Unicode code chart: Greek and Coptic (U+0370–U+03FF)