What is the ASCII Code of ½?

Question

I want to print the value '½' in a file. I searched for the ascii value of this as Alt+(ascii Value) will give you the same. To my surprise I found 2 ascii values for this symbol in various sites. One is 171 and the other is 189.

I tried to write this symbol by using 171 and 189. Again to my surprise, if I am writing in Windows, 171 will give me this symbol. But if I am writing in UNIX, 189 will give me this symbol.

I was aware that there cant be 2 ASCII Values for a same symbol. But I got 2 valid codes for the same symbol in different OS. So can anyone tell what is the real ASCII Code for the symbol ½ ??

Answer 1

As others have pointed out: it's not in the ASCII table (values 0..127).

But it has a Unicode code of:

• ½ U+00BD Vulgar Fraction One Half

It can also be put into text using the unicode U+2044 Fraction Slash:

• where your text contains the three code points: 1⁄2
• but it gets rendered as 1⁄2

This has the virtue of working for any fractions:

• 1⁄2
• 3⁄5
• 22⁄7
• 355⁄113
• 355⁄113 - 1⁄3748629