? Question Mark
Also called: query, interrogation point. A question mark ends a sentence that asks something.
How to type ?
Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the / key with your right pinky.
Meaning and fun facts
One story says the ? started as the Latin word "quaestio" (question), shortened to "qo" and then squished into a curl over a dot.
Common uses
- End a question
- Search boxes and website links (?q=)
- Showing you are unsure: 3?
Fun example: Can you type with your eyes closed?
Typing tip
The question mark shares a key with the slash. Kids often forget Shift and type / by mistake, so say "Shift and slash" out loud the first few times.
? at a glance
| Keyboard (Windows, Mac, Chromebook) | Shift + / |
|---|---|
| Phone or tablet | On an iPhone, tap the 123 key and it is right there. On Android (Gboard), tap ?123. |
| Windows Alt code | Alt + 63 (hold Alt, type the number on the number pad) |
| Unicode | U+003F |
| HTML code | ? |
Quick practice drill
Type the examples below. The keyboard shows which finger and Shift key to use.
Want more? Practice this reach in Lesson 28: Periods and Question Marks, or warm up with typing practice and Falling Words.
Related symbols
See all symbols in Keyboard Characters and Meanings.
FAQ
What is the ? symbol called?
? is called the question mark. It is also called query, interrogation point.
How do you type question mark on a keyboard?
Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the / key with your right pinky.
What does ? mean?
A question mark ends a sentence that asks something.