Unlocking the Asterisk: A Comprehensive Guide to Typing * on Any Keyboard

The asterisk (*), that seemingly simple little star, is a ubiquitous character in the digital world. It plays a pivotal role in everything from programming languages to online communication, acting as a wildcard, a symbol for multiplication, or even just a way to emphasize a word. But, despite its common usage, many people find themselves scratching their heads when they need to type one on their keyboard. This comprehensive guide aims to demystify the process, providing you with all the knowledge and techniques you need to confidently produce asterisks whenever you need them, regardless of your operating system, keyboard type, or device.

Understanding the Basics: Where to Find the Asterisk on Your Keyboard

Before diving into complex methods, let’s start with the fundamental: identifying the standard location of the asterisk on your keyboard. For most standard English QWERTY keyboards, the asterisk is typically located on the number 8 key. It’s important to remember that this is a ‘shifted’ character, meaning you need to press another key in conjunction with the number 8 to actually type it.

The key you need to hold down is the Shift key. This key is usually located on the left and right sides of your keyboard, identified by an upward-pointing arrow symbol. To type an asterisk, therefore, you need to:

1. Press and hold down the Shift key.
2. While holding down Shift, press the number 8 key.
3. Release both keys.

This simple two-key combination is the most common method for typing an asterisk across various platforms and applications. However, variations and alternatives exist, and we’ll delve into those next.

Alternative Methods for Typing an Asterisk

While the Shift+8 combination is standard, there are situations where it might not be the most convenient, or even possible. Here are several alternative approaches:

1. Using the Number Pad (Num Lock Considerations)

If your keyboard has a dedicated number pad on the right side, you might be tempted to use it. The number pad often has a multiplication symbol (×) which can be confusing as it looks similar to an asterisk. But to type an actual asterisk using the numpad you have to enable the num lock and then hold the shift key while pressing the number 8 in the numeric section of the keyboard. In some keyboards, the asterisk symbol is available next to the number 9 of the numeric section, you need to hold shift key and click that key to get the asterisk.

2. Typing Asterisks on Mobile Devices (Smartphones and Tablets)

Typing on mobile devices often presents a unique set of challenges, and the asterisk is no exception. The exact method will vary slightly depending on your operating system (iOS or Android) and the keyboard app you are using, but the principles remain similar:

a. iOS (iPhone and iPad)

On iOS, the standard keyboard usually hides the asterisk behind the ‘123’ key. To access it, follow these steps:

1. Tap the ‘123’ key, usually located in the bottom-left corner of the keyboard, to switch to the numeric/symbol keyboard.
2. Locate the asterisk (*). It is usually on the left side, near the numbers.
3. Tap the asterisk to insert it.
4. Tap the ‘ABC’ or letter icon key to switch back to the regular letter keyboard.

Some third-party keyboards for iOS might offer different layouts, but most place the asterisk in a similar location within the numeric/symbol view. You might find it by long pressing keys or exploring the secondary symbol menu.

b. Android (Smartphones and Tablets)

Android keyboards are generally quite similar to their iOS counterparts. To type an asterisk on most Android devices, follow these steps:

1. Tap the ‘?123’ key or a similar symbol to switch to the symbols and numeric keyboard layout.
2. The asterisk (*) should be easy to locate. It’s commonly placed near the other symbols on the keyboard.
3. Tap the asterisk to insert it.
4. Tap the ‘ABC’ or letter icon key to go back to the alphabetic keyboard layout.

Just like with iOS, you may encounter some small variations depending on your keyboard app. Check the symbol pages or explore for alternate symbols.

3. Using Character Map or Emoji Picker (Windows and macOS)

If, for any reason, the standard methods fail, both Windows and macOS offer built-in tools that allow you to select and insert special characters, including the asterisk.

a. Windows Character Map

The Windows Character Map is a hidden but powerful tool for accessing all sorts of characters. Here’s how to use it to find and insert an asterisk:

1. Click the Start button (usually the Windows logo in the bottom left corner)
2. Type ‘Character Map’ and press Enter. The Character Map application will open.
3. In the Character Map window, ensure the font selected is set to something common like ‘Arial’, ‘Times New Roman’ or ‘Courier New’.
4. Scroll through the list of characters, and locate the asterisk (*). If the list is very long, you may try searching for ‘*’ in the search box.
5. Select the asterisk and click the ‘Select’ button, and then click the ‘Copy’ button.
6. Go back to your document or text field, and paste the copied character by pressing Ctrl+V or right clicking and selecting paste.

b. macOS Character Viewer (Emoji & Symbols)

macOS provides a similar tool called the Character Viewer (which also handles emojis). Accessing the asterisk is quite simple using it:

1. Click on the Edit Menu and select Emoji & Symbols, or use the shortcut: Control+Command+Spacebar.
2. A pop-up will appear for character selection. In the search bar in the top right, type ‘asterisk’.
3. Select the asterisk from the list and it will get inserted into the text field.

4. Alt Codes (Windows Only)

Alt codes are a Windows-specific method for typing special characters. Each character is assigned a numeric code, which you can enter using the Alt key and the number pad. To type an asterisk using an Alt code, follow these steps:

1. Ensure the Num Lock is activated on your keyboard.
2. Press and hold down the Alt key.
3. While holding down Alt, type the numbers ’42’ using the numeric keypad.
4. Release the Alt key, and the asterisk (*) should appear.

Note that this method only works with the numeric keypad, not the numbers on the top row of the keyboard. The Alt code for asterisk is ‘42’. Similarly, you may also use the ALT code ‘042’ to produce the asterisk on the keyboard.

5. Copying and Pasting

This is the most rudimentary and simplest method that does not depend on your keyboard configuration or operating system. If for some reason you find all the above mentioned methods difficult or impossible you can simply copy the asterisk from this page ‘*’ and paste it where you want. This is usually the most cumbersome method of entering an asterisk but may prove useful in certain scenarios.

Common Use Cases for the Asterisk

Now that you know how to type an asterisk, let’s explore some of its common uses:

1. Multiplication

In mathematics and programming, the asterisk is used as the standard symbol for multiplication. For example, 5 * 3 would equal 15.

2. Wildcard Character

In computer searches, file management, and database queries, the asterisk often serves as a wildcard. It represents a set of unknown characters, for example searching ‘doc*’ may give you results such as document, doctor, documents etc. This allows you to search using a pattern rather than a complete file name.

3. Emphasis in Text (Informal Usage)

In informal online writing, especially in chat or social media, asterisks are sometimes used to *emphasize* words or phrases. For example, “This is *very* important!”

4. Footnotes and References

In academic or technical writing, asterisks can be used as footnote markers, often used in conjunction with other symbols like daggers (†) to denote further explanation or references at the end of document.

5. Regular Expressions

In computer programming and software development, the asterisk is an important meta-character in Regular Expressions and it denotes ‘zero or more’ occurrences of the previous item, which makes it a fundamental element in pattern matching.

6. Masking Sensitive Information

Asterisks can be used to mask part of sensitive information such as a password or a credit card number. For example, the credit card number would appear like this ‘4557-XXXX-XXXX-4578’, thus securing the sensitive part of the information.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, even with all the knowledge, you might encounter problems typing an asterisk. Here are some common issues and their potential solutions:

1. Shift Key Malfunction

If the Shift key is not working properly, you might be unable to type the asterisk using the standard method. Try using the alternate Shift key, if your keyboard has one. Try using the Character map method, or copying the asterisk from elsewhere if the problem persists. If both the shift keys are failing to function, you should look for problems with the keyboard itself.

2. Num Lock is Off

If you are trying to use the Alt code method or numeric keypad method, make sure the Num Lock key is enabled. When Num Lock is off, pressing number keys will act as navigational keys and may give an unexpected result.

3. Keyboard Language/Layout Problems

Sometimes, your operating system may be set to a different keyboard layout than the one you are using. This can lead to misinterpretations of the keys you press. Make sure the selected keyboard layout is appropriate for your keyboard, through the language settings in the operating system.

4. Conflicting Keybindings

Certain applications or system settings might have keybindings that interfere with the standard keyboard input. If you are having trouble with a specific application, check the application’s settings and keybindings.

5. Hardware Problems

If the keyboard is damaged or failing, it can lead to improper functionality. Connect a different working keyboard and see if the problem persists. If it gets resolved, it means the previous keyboard needs repair or replacement.

Conclusion

The asterisk, while small, is a mighty character that serves numerous purposes in the digital world. By mastering the various methods for typing an asterisk, from the standard Shift+8 combination to the more advanced character map and Alt code methods, you are now well-equipped to tackle any typing task that requires its presence. Whether you are a student, a programmer, a writer, or simply a casual computer user, understanding how to type an asterisk is a fundamental skill that will save you time and frustration. We hope this comprehensive guide has helped to unlock the power of the asterisk on your keyboard.