Hash mark

Hash mark refers to the symbol "#" which is known by various names such as hash, pound sign, sharp, or number sign in different contexts and regions. It has a wide range of uses in computing, telecommunications, social media, and other fields. The symbol itself is represented by two horizontal lines crossed by two vertical lines (#).

Usage

Telecommunications

In telecommunications, the hash mark is often used on telephone keypads to denote the end of a sequence of numbers. For example, when entering a password or making a selection in an automated phone system, users might be instructed to press the hash key.

Computing

In computing, the hash mark has several applications. It is used in many programming languages to denote a comment line, where anything following the hash mark on that line is ignored by the compiler or interpreter. This is common in languages such as Python and Perl. Additionally, in shell scripting and Unix-based systems, the hash mark is used in a similar manner for comments.

The hash mark is also integral to the concept of hash functions and hash tables, where it represents a method for generating a unique identifier for a set of data.

Social Media

On social media platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram, the hash mark is used to create hashtags, which are words or phrases prefixed with the symbol. Hashtags categorize content and make it discoverable by others. When a user clicks on a hashtag, they are shown other posts that have used the same hashtag.

Other Uses

The hash mark is also used in music to denote a sharp note, which is a semitone higher than the natural note. In chess, it signifies checkmate. Additionally, in the context of sports, particularly in American football, hash marks are the lines on the field that mark the positions where the ball is restarted after it goes out of bounds.

Representation in Different Countries

The terminology and usage of the hash mark can vary by country. In the United States, it is commonly called the "pound sign" and is used to denote weight in pounds when placed before a number (e.g., #10 for ten pounds). In the United Kingdom and other countries, it is often referred to as the "hash" and is primarily associated with telecommunications and computing contexts.

Conclusion

The hash mark is a versatile symbol with a variety of uses across different fields. Its significance and application have evolved over time, especially with the advent of social media, where it has gained prominence through the use of hashtags.

Hash mark Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.

Translate to: East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski