*️⃣
Keycap Asterisk
KEE-kap AS-tuh-risk
Definitions
1
Technical · Symbol
Uncommon
A keycap asterisk symbol typically used to represent a phone button, mathematical operator, or wildcard character in digital communication.
Often used in contexts requiring technical symbols or when referencing phone keypad functions.
Dial *2 (*️⃣2️⃣) to access your voicemail settings.
Mobile service instructions
In digital culture, the asterisk commonly represents censorship, corrections, or annotations.
Evolution Timeline
2015
Standardized as part of Unicode 8.0's emoji set as a keycap sequence.
Increased need for representing phone keypad symbols in digital communication
Cultural Context
The asterisk keycap represents the symbol found on traditional telephone keypads, maintaining continuity between physical and digital interfaces.
In text communication, asterisks are used to indicate corrections, emphasis, or censorship, though the keycap version is rarely used for these purposes.
Regional Variations
United States
Commonly used in customer service contexts to indicate automated phone menu options.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: More likely to use when sharing phone instructions or customer service information.
Gen_Z: Rarely used except in technical contexts; not part of common emoji vocabulary.
Older: May use when sharing technical instructions, particularly related to telephone systems.
Millennials: Occasionally used when giving technical instructions or referencing phone systems.
Common Combinations
*️⃣0️⃣
Represents the combination often used to access an operator on phone systems.
Common in instructions for landline phone systems and customer service menus.
*️⃣#️⃣
Represents common ending sequence for phone commands or codes.
Used in technical instructions for phone systems and security codes.