“Hash on a keyboard” usually means the character #, commonly called the hash sign, hash symbol, or number sign. It is a punctuation mark and symbol—not a special kind of keyboard—and its name and function depend on the country, device, and context.
On many keyboards, you type # with Shift and the key that also displays 3, but layouts differ. The symbol appears in everyday writing, computing, and telephone instructions, where it can have distinct names and meanings.
What “hash” means on a keyboard
In this phrase, “hash” is an informal, widely understood name for the printed character #. In British English, “hash” and “hash sign” are common names for it. In American English, “pound sign” or “number sign” is often more familiar. “Octothorpe” is another established name, though it is less common in everyday conversation.
These names refer to the same glyph, but not always to the same use. A hash sign in a social-media tag, a number sign before a numeral, and a pound sign in a telephone menu may look alike while serving different purposes. The word “hash” itself is standard English in some settings, especially British usage and computing; calling the character a hash is not inherently slang or incorrect. It can, however, be unclear if the listener expects another regional name.
“On a keyboard” simply identifies where someone sees or enters the character. It does not turn “hash” into a separate technical term. For instance, “Press the hash key” is a practical instruction, while “The hash sign begins the tag” describes one use of the character.
Where the name and symbol come from
The character has a long history in writing and printing. Its form is commonly understood as a development related to the abbreviation for the Latin word libra, a unit of weight. In English, that abbreviation became associated with pounds, helping explain the American name “pound sign.” The character also came to mark numbers, which accounts for “number sign.”
The precise path from earlier forms to the modern printed glyph is complex, and accounts of its development are not all identical. It is safer to say that the mark evolved through writing and typesetting conventions than to claim one simple invention or a single originator.
“Hash” is a familiar name for the mark in British English and is also used in computing. “Octothorpe” arose as a name for the character in telecommunications, but it is not the usual word most people need when asking how to type it. In ordinary conversation, “hash,” “hash sign,” “number sign,” and “pound sign” are more likely to be understood according to local usage.
How to type the hash sign
The key combination depends on the keyboard layout and operating system. On many US-style computer keyboards, # shares a key with 3 and is typed by holding Shift while pressing that key. Other layouts may place it elsewhere or require a different modifier.
- Look for the printed # symbol on the key. If it appears above another character, a modifier such as Shift commonly accesses it.
- Check the active keyboard layout in your device’s settings if the printed key produces a different symbol.
- On a phone or tablet, switch from the letters view to the numbers or symbols view, then look for #.
- If a password or form requires the character, confirm that it appears on screen when display is allowed; some password fields conceal what you type.
Keyboard layouts are not universal, and the same physical key can produce different characters under different layout settings. A keyboard with a US layout may not behave like one configured for a UK or other layout. The labels printed on a physical keyboard can also differ from the software layout currently selected.
What the hash sign is used for
The context determines what # means. It may label a number, introduce a topic tag, act as a programming character, or appear in instructions for a telephone keypad. These functions are related by the same symbol, not by one universal definition.
- Number marking: In some English-language writing, “#5” can mean “number five.” In other contexts, especially where readers might interpret it as a pound sign, writing “number five” is clearer.
- Social-media tags: A hash sign placed directly before a word or phrase creates a hashtag on services that support hashtags. For example, “The class shared notes under #studygroup” uses the mark to label a topic. Whether a tag is clickable or searchable depends on the service.
- Programming: Some languages and tools give # a special syntactic role, such as introducing a comment or a directive. Its meaning depends on the particular language or file format; it does not have one universal programming meaning.
- Telephone menus: An automated phone system may ask a caller to press the hash key. In that instruction, it means the key marked #, regardless of whether the caller calls it hash, pound, or number sign.
It is useful to distinguish the visible symbol from the names people give it. “Type a hashtag” usually means enter the # sign and then the tag text. Strictly speaking, the symbol alone is not the complete tag: in “#campus,” the symbol and the following text form the hashtag.
Hash, pound sign, number sign, or hashtag?
The names overlap, but they are not interchangeable in every sentence. “Hash sign” usually points to the character itself. “Hashtag” usually means a topic label made with the character and accompanying text. “Number sign” makes sense when the mark identifies a number, and “pound sign” is common in American descriptions of the telephone key or the symbol.
In a college setting, a student might hear “press the pound key” when using a recorded campus phone menu, or see a course discussion labeled with a hashtag. A professor referring to a numbered question might write “Question #3,” though writing “Question 3” is often more straightforward. The intended meaning comes from the surrounding words, not from the shape alone.
Use the term your audience is likely to recognize. If you are giving instructions to people from different regions, say “the # key” or “the key marked with the hash symbol” rather than assuming everyone uses the same name. If the context is a written document, spell out “number” when ambiguity could matter.
Common problems and misconceptions
A frequent problem is pressing the key that appears to contain # and getting another character. The cause is often an active keyboard layout that does not match the physical keyboard, although device-specific settings can also affect input. Check the layout before assuming the key is broken.
- Confusing # with a musical sharp: They are similar-looking marks, but the sharp sign in music is a separate symbol with a different shape and role.
- Calling every use a hashtag: A bare # in a phone instruction or before a number is not necessarily a hashtag. The term generally refers to a tag used to label or group content.
- Assuming the name is universal: People may say hash, pound sign, or number sign depending on regional and situational conventions.
- Assuming every programming language treats it alike: The character’s role varies. Consult the documentation for the language or tool involved rather than applying a rule from another one.
There is also a distinction between typing a character and interpreting it. A text field may accept # without giving it any special meaning. A programming environment or social platform may interpret it according to its own rules. If the symbol behaves unexpectedly, check the application’s instructions as well as the keyboard layout.
When to use another word
Choose a more explicit term if your audience might misunderstand “hash.” For technical writing, name the character as “the # symbol” on first mention, then explain its function. For a phone instruction, “press the key marked #” is clear across regions. For a numbered list or question, the word “number” or the numeral by itself may read more naturally.
In casual conversation, “hash” is perfectly serviceable in places where that name is familiar. It is not a nonstandard word simply because another region uses “pound sign.” Still, a reader who has only heard “number sign” may need a moment to connect the terms. A short clarification avoids that snag without treating any one regional label as the only correct one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hash key on a keyboard?
The hash key is the key or key combination that enters #. On many layouts, Shift plus the key marked 3 produces it, but the exact combination varies with the keyboard layout and device.
Is hash the same as hashtag?
No. Hash is a common name for the # character. A hashtag usually consists of that character followed immediately by text, such as #studygroup, used as a topic label where the service supports it.
Why does my keyboard type another symbol instead of #?
Your selected software layout may differ from the layout printed on the physical keyboard, or the symbol may require a different modifier. Check the device’s keyboard settings and the layout’s key guide.
Is # called hash or pound?
Both names are used. “Hash” is common in British English and computing; “pound sign” is common in American English, particularly for telephone keypad instructions. “Number sign” is another familiar name.
What does # mean in programming?
It depends on the programming language, command environment, or file format. In some contexts it marks a comment or directive, while other systems assign it a different function or none at all. Check the relevant documentation.
In short
“Hash on keyboard” generally means the # symbol and the key used to type it. Hash is a standard, regionally familiar name for the character, not a separate keyboard feature; its meaning may indicate a number, label a hashtag, or serve a context-specific technical purpose. When explaining it, identify the symbol and describe the context so readers know exactly what to press or interpret.