Unsupported titles/`lcub` `rcub`

See also: {}

{ U+007B, { LEFT CURLY BRACKET ← z [U+007A] Basic Latin | → [U+007C]

} U+007D, } RIGHT CURLY BRACKET ← | [U+007C] Basic Latin ~ → [U+007E]

Translingual

Symbol

{ } (English symbol name curly brackets or braces)

1. (mathematics) Encloses a mathematical phrase which has increased operator precedence.

   10/2+3 = 5+3 = 8

   10/{2+3} = 10/5 = 2

2. (mathematics) Indicates the fractional part.

   {3.14} = 0.14

3. (set theory) Encloses a set.

   Set of positive divisors of 6 = {1, 2, 3}.

   The set of even numbers can be written as { n ∊ ℤ : ∃ k ∊ ℤ: n = 2k } .

4. (set theory) Empty set.

   Set of natural numbers between 2 and 3 = { }.

   Alternative form: {}

   Synonym: ∅

5. (programming) Used in some programming languages, especially C-type languages.
   1. Encloses the body of a function.

      doSomethingTwice () { return doSomething () + doSomething () }

   2. Encloses each branch of a conditional.

      if (x>4) { result = "congratulations!" }

6. (phonology) Delimiter for morphophonemic transcription, especially when presented as sets of phonemes rather than as single symbols for archiphonemes.

   E.g. la{t,d}er for the conflated pronunciation of ladder and latter in American English, versus ⫽laDer⫽, ‖laDer‖ or |laDer|, where ⟨D⟩ stands for {t, d}, though {laDer} is also seen.

7. (phonetics) Sets off VoQS notation.

Related terms

• (mathematical precedence) ( ), [ ]
• (linguistic delimiter): | |, ‖ ‖, ⫽

Punctuation mark

{ }

1. Encloses a series of equal choices.

   Select your animal {goat, sheep, cow, horse} and follow me.

2. (papyrology, epigraphy) Encloses writing by the original scribe that the editor considers erroneous.

Usage notes

In English, this symbol is called curly brackets or braces.

See also

• Bracket on Wikipedia.Wikipedia