The pipe symbol: OR, how to type on Mac

If you would like to use a vertical bar character (|) or "pipe" symbol in the place of a slash on your Mac, the process could not be more straightforward. This article will show you how to do so.

What does the vertical line symbol mean?

You can use the vertical bar ( | ) to indicate different values. Most often, this sign is used in mathematics and programming and is therefore also called the OR sign, since it means that one of the statements is true. In some programs, this sign has a special value. However, it can also be used in any layout of texts to separate one part from another. With two lines you can express the concept of parallelism.

How to make the pipe symbol ( | ) on Mac?

If your Mac Magic Keyboard does not have the Pipe Key, like the keyboard pictured below, then there is a shortcut for print the pipe character or symbol available on Mac computers. Making a pipe on a Mac is possible by pressing a combination of keys. Thus, a direct key is not needed for printing the pipe symbol on a Mac.

It is not immediately obvious on some Mac keyboards how to type the pipe character: |. The following key combination should achieve this:

Alt + Shift + L

How to find the Pipe key?

If you have one of the Mac keyboards which has the Pipe Key ( | ) on it, then it is much easier to use frequently, however it may not be immediately obvious how to access it.

As you can see in this image, the Pipe Key is located on the right side of the keyboard. To use it, you will need to hold the shift button and then press the key with the Pipe Symbol simultaneously.