The nabla symbol is ∇. It has no standard Windows Alt code, so the quickest route depends on your app: in Microsoft Word, type 2207 and press Alt+X; on a Mac, open Character Viewer with Ctrl+Cmd+Space and search for nabla. Everywhere else, click the button below to copy it.
Nabla symbol quick reference
| Method | Input | Works in |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Alt code (CP1252) | No standard Windows Alt code | Not applicable |
| Windows, Unicode-aware apps | Hold Alt, type 8711 (decimal) on the numeric keypad | WordPad, some apps |
| Mac | Character Viewer: Ctrl+Cmd+Space, search “nabla” | Most Mac apps |
| Word, Outlook, OneNote | Type 2207 (hex), press Alt+X | Word, Outlook, OneNote |
| Excel, Google Sheets | =UNICHAR(8711) | Spreadsheet cells |
| Chromebook, Linux | Ctrl+Shift+U, type 2207 (hex), Enter | ChromeOS, Linux |
| HTML | ∇, ∇, or ∇ | Web pages |
| CSS | content: "\2207"; | Stylesheets |
| LaTeX | \nabla | Math mode |
| Unicode code point | U+2207 | Universal reference |
Watch the two numbers. 8711 is the decimal code point and belongs with Alt entry and UNICHAR; 2207 is the hexadecimal code point and belongs with Alt+X, Ctrl+Shift+U, and CSS. They point to the same character but are not interchangeable across methods.
Type the nabla symbol on Windows
Windows has no Alt code for ∇ in the standard Western character set, so the two dependable routes are a Unicode-aware Alt entry or Character Map.
2207 then Alt+X in Word in Unicode-aware apps
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold Alt and type 8711 on the numeric keypad.
- Release Alt. The ∇ appears.
This works in WordPad and other Unicode-aware programs, but Notepad and many text fields ignore it. You need a physical numeric keypad; the number row above the letters does not trigger Alt codes.
No keypad? Use Character Map or copy-paste.
Character Map
- Press the Windows key, type Character Map, and open it.
- Tick Advanced view, then type nabla in the search box.
- Select ∇, click Select and then Copy, and paste it where you need it.
The emoji and symbol panel (Win + . or Win + ;) also has a Ω symbols tab with a math group worth a look. Character Map is the guaranteed find.
Type the nabla symbol on Mac
macOS has no Alt codes and no Option-key shortcut for the nabla. Ignore any Windows Alt code you see for it, and use Character Viewer instead.
- Press Ctrl+Cmd+Space to open Character Viewer in any app.
- Type nabla in the search field.
- Double-click ∇ to insert it, or drag it into your document.
Click the star to add ∇ to Favorites so you can grab it again without searching.
Type the nabla symbol in Word and PowerPoint
Alt+X in Word
- Type 2207 where you want the symbol.
- With the cursor right after the 7, press Alt+X.
- The 2207 turns into ∇.
The 2207 here is the hexadecimal code point, not a decimal Alt code, and Alt+X reads it from the regular number row, so no keypad is needed. This shortcut works in Outlook and OneNote too. It does not work in PowerPoint or Excel.
Insert Symbol
- Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
- Set Subset to Mathematical Operators, or type 2207 in the character-code box with from: Unicode (hex).
- Select ∇ and click Insert.
The same Insert → Symbol route works in PowerPoint, which has no Alt+X shortcut. If you use ∇ often, add it under Insert → Symbol → AutoCorrect and map a trigger like \nabla to the glyph.
Type the nabla symbol in Excel and Google Sheets
Alt+X does not work in a spreadsheet cell, so use a formula. In both Excel and Google Sheets, =UNICHAR(8711) returns ∇, where 8711 is the decimal code point.
To freeze it as plain text, copy the cell and use Paste Special → Values. Excel also offers Insert → Symbol; set the subset to Mathematical Operators or enter 2207 in hex.
Google Sheets has no Insert → Special characters menu, so the formula, a paste, or typing it elsewhere and copying in are your only options. In a Sheets cell, press F2 to enter edit mode before using any OS-level input method.
Type the nabla symbol in Google Docs
- Open Insert → Special characters.
- Type nabla in the search box, or draw the shape in the sketch pad.
- Click ∇ to drop it at the cursor.
Google Docs has no Alt code; this dialog is the built-in route. To make it automatic, add ∇ under Tools → Preferences → Substitutions with a trigger word.
Type the nabla symbol on iPhone and Android
No phone keyboard shows ∇ by default, and long-pressing a key will not reveal it. The fast fix is to copy it from the button near the top of this page and paste it.
To type it later without hunting, set up a text replacement:
- iPhone: Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement → +. Paste ∇ in Phrase, and put a shortcut like nabla in Shortcut.
- Android (Gboard): Settings → System → Languages & input → Gboard → Dictionary → Personal dictionary → +. Add ∇ with a shortcut word.
Type the nabla symbol on a Chromebook
ChromeOS has no Alt codes, and plugging in a USB numpad will not change that. Use the Unicode shortcut instead.
- Click into a text field.
- Hold Ctrl+Shift+U; an underlined u appears.
- Type 2207 (the hex code, with no U+ prefix).
- Press Enter or Space. The digits become ∇.
If a web field swallows the shortcut, open the symbol picker at Launcher+Shift+Space (or the Quick Insert key on newer models), or paste from the copy button above.
Nabla in Notion, Slack, Discord, and Canva
None of these apps has a symbol menu or keyboard code for ∇, so pasting is the reliable move. Set up the phone or computer text replacement above and the same trigger works inside all of them.
- Notion: paste ∇ inline, or type
/equation(or wrap text in$$) and use\nablain a math block. - Slack and Discord: paste the glyph; neither has a symbol shortcut, and a slash command will not produce it.
- Canva: paste ∇ into a text box. If it shows as a box, switch to a font with wide math coverage.
Nabla in HTML and CSS
On the web, use the named entity or a numeric reference. All of these render ∇ wherever the font includes the glyph.
- HTML named entity:
∇ - HTML numeric, decimal:
∇ - HTML numeric, hex:
∇ - CSS content value:
content: "\2207";
Nabla won’t show up? Common fixes
- It shows as □ or ?. The font lacks U+2207. Switch to one with math coverage such as Cambria Math, STIX Two, Latin Modern Math, or DejaVu Sans.
- Your triangle points up. You typed the increment sign ∆ (U+2206) or the Greek capital delta Δ (U+0394), both of which point up. Nabla is U+2207 and points down.
- It looks right but math tools ignore it. You may have typed the white down-pointing triangle ▽ (U+25BD), a geometric shape with no operator meaning. Use U+2207.
- Alt+X grabbed extra characters. If 2207 sits right after other letters or digits, Alt+X can convert a longer string. Put a space before it, or select exactly 2207 first.
- 2207 then Alt+X in Word does nothing. The app is not Unicode-aware, or Num Lock is off. Use Character Map or paste instead.
What the nabla symbol is used for
Nabla is the del operator of vector calculus. Placed before a field, it builds three standard operations: ∇f is the gradient of a scalar field, ∇·F is the divergence of a vector field, and ∇×F is the curl. ∇² (also written ∇·∇) is the Laplacian.
You will meet it across physics and engineering, from Maxwell’s equations in differential form to fluid dynamics and heat flow. Read it aloud as “del” or “nabla”; both names refer to the same U+2207 character.
Related symbols and guides
The nabla sits beside several math and logic symbols readers confuse it with. The there exists symbol (∃) and the for all symbol (∀) are logic quantifiers you will see near gradients in proofs, with different meanings and codes.
Proportional to (∝) marks a relationship rather than an operation, and not an element of (∉) is set notation. For the four-dot ratio mark, see how to type the proportion symbol (∷).
Nabla is one of the symbols with no working Alt code; the Alt code finder lists the ones that do have them. Browse the rest of the math and science symbols, or keep the full Alt code list handy for quick lookups.
Frequently asked questions
Is the nabla symbol the same as the del operator?
Yes. ∇ has two common names: “nabla,” after the ancient harp its shape resembles, and “del,” which is what most physicists say out loud. Both refer to the same character, U+2207, and the official Unicode name is NABLA.
How do I type the Laplacian ∇² or curl ∇×?
Type the nabla first, then add what follows. For ∇², insert ∇ and format a superscript 2, or use Word’s equation editor.
For divergence and curl, follow ∇ with the dot operator · (U+00B7) or the multiplication sign × (U+00D7). In LaTeX: \nabla^2, \nabla \cdot, and \nabla \times.
Can I type the nabla symbol without a numeric keypad?
Yes. Alt codes are the only method that needs the keypad.
Word’s Alt+X uses the regular number row, and Character Map, Google Docs’ special characters, the Chromebook Ctrl+Shift+U shortcut, and copy-paste all work without one. Laptop users generally skip Alt codes for this symbol.
Does the nabla symbol have an emoji version?
No. Nabla is a plain math character with no emoji presentation, so it appears as the same monochrome glyph on phones and desktops. If it looks different between two devices, that is the font at work, not an emoji-versus-text switch.
Why does \nabla give an error in LaTeX?
\nabla only works in math mode. Wrap it in $ ... $ for inline math, or use a display environment like \[ ... \]
. Outside math mode, LaTeX reports “Missing $ inserted. ” The command itself needs no extra package.