*️⃣

Keycap Asterisk

KEE-kap AS-tuh-risk
Symbols Unicode 2.0 rare

Meanings

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.

Combos with *️⃣

*️⃣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.

Culture

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.

United States Commonly used in customer service contexts to indicate automated phone menu options.
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.

History

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