is a mathematical operation where a number (the base) is raised to the power of another number (the exponent). The most common symbols used to represent exponentiation are:
Superscript notation (bⁿ): The exponent is written as a superscript to the right of the base, such as 2³ for "2 raised to the power of 3." This is the standard in printed and written mathematics.
Caret symbol (^): Used in computing and programming languages (e.g., 2^3 in calculators, spreadsheets, and many programming languages like Python, JavaScript, and Caché Basic) to denote exponentiation.
Double asterisk ()**: Used in programming languages like Python and JavaScript (e.g., 2 ** 3) as the exponentiation operator.
For copying and pasting superscript exponents, Unicode superscript characters are available:
⁰ ¹ ² ³ ⁴ ⁵ ⁶ ⁷ ⁸ ⁹ ⁺ ⁻ ⁼ ⁽ ⁾ ⁿ
These can be used in plain text, documents, or web content where superscript formatting is supported.
mathematical operation
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Exponentiation
Exponentiation - Wikipedia
1 month ago - Programming languages generally express exponentiation either as an infix operator or as a function application, as they do not support superscripts. The most common operator symbol for exponentiation is the caret (^). The original version of ASCII included an uparrow symbol (↑), intended ...
EtymologyHistoryTerminologyInteger exponentsRational exponentsReal exponentsComplex exponents with a positive real baseNon-integer exponents with a complex baseIrrationality and transcendenceInteger powers in algebraPowers of setsRepeated exponentiationLimits of powersEfficient computation with integer exponentsIterated functionsIn programming languages
InterSystems
docs.intersystems.com › latest › csp › docbook › DocBook.UI.Page.cls
Exponent Operator (^) | Caché Basic Reference | Caché & Ensemble 2018.1.4 – 2018.1.12
For details on valid argument values and the value returned for specific combinations of argument values, see Exponentiation Operator in the “Operators and Expressions” chapter of Using Caché ObjectScript. The following example shows valid uses of the exponent operator (^) and the base-10 exponent symbol (E).
The caret ^ symbol means exponentiation informally in math. Why not a symbol for log too?
^ is not really a symbol for exponentiation. It's uses as one because of early limitations of character encoding really. It's supposed to suggest that you put what follows up, which is how exponentiation is written. Now, the real question is why is there a common notation for exponentiation function (ax) but no notation for its inverse function beyond giving the function a name. If I had to guess, it would be because exponentiation is much older. In addition, it's actually rather annoying that we insist on writing all exponentials in that ax way, which is why people often write exp(x) instead when a=e for instance. Writing things as superscripts is really not great notation. For instance, in calculus a common mistake would be to take the derivative of ex as x ex-1. This is because people want to think notationally. More on reddit.com
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March 6, 2015Can someone explain the exponent part of this real number symbol?
ℝn×m means n×m matrices with real number entries. so x_k is a matrix/column vector with N_s entries and 1 column. More on reddit.com
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November 3, 2023Why is the exponentiation operator ** instead of say ^?
Because ^ is the bitwise xor operator. That symbol has been used in many other languages, and Python uses the same operator (along with ~, &, and | for other bitwise operators). Most of those languages don't have an exponentiatioin operator, so a new operator had to be used in Python when exponentiation was added. More on reddit.com
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May 13, 2019if there was a special symbol for repeated exponentiation ...
Videos
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How to Type Power Numbers or Exponents on Keyboard - YouTube
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Symbols and Exponents - YouTube
i2symbol
i2symbol.com › home › symbols › superscript
Superscript Symbols (Copy and Paste) ⁰ ¹ ² ³ – Unicode Superscripts & Uses
A superscript symbol is a Unicode character formatted as a raised version of a letter, number, or operator. Superscripts are commonly used to indicate exponentiation (such as X²), citation and footnote markers, and compact scientific or technical ...
Wumbo
wumbo.net › symbols › caret
Caret Symbol (^)
In plain language, this means “raise 2 to the 3rd power”. The caret symbol is also used to typeset superscript text, which represents exponentiation in written math.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/math › the caret ^ symbol means exponentiation informally in math. why not a symbol for log too?
r/math on Reddit: The caret ^ symbol means exponentiation informally in math. Why not a symbol for log too?
March 6, 2015 -
Plus, minus, multiply, divide, and exponentiation all have symbols in math (+, -, *, /, ^ ) . But why isn't there the missing log symbol too? Here's how it would work:
4 ^ 5 = 1024 (as is standard for exponentiation)
1024 _ 4 = 5 ("_" is the new log operator!)
Look how much more elegant <1> is compared to <2>, <3> or <4>. We shouldn't need to do those hacks to express the same thing:
1: 1024 _ 4 = 5
2: log(1024)/log(4) = 5
3: LogBase(1024,4) = 5
4: The standard math syntax in LaTeX format: [; \sqrt[\leftroot{-2}\uproot{2}\4]{1024}=5 ;]
NB: It doesn't have to be an underscore symbol. It's just the first thing that sprang to mind.
Top answer 1 of 4
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^ is not really a symbol for exponentiation. It's uses as one because of early limitations of character encoding really. It's supposed to suggest that you put what follows up, which is how exponentiation is written. Now, the real question is why is there a common notation for exponentiation function (ax) but no notation for its inverse function beyond giving the function a name. If I had to guess, it would be because exponentiation is much older. In addition, it's actually rather annoying that we insist on writing all exponentials in that ax way, which is why people often write exp(x) instead when a=e for instance. Writing things as superscripts is really not great notation. For instance, in calculus a common mistake would be to take the derivative of ex as x ex-1. This is because people want to think notationally.
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There is a special symbol for the inverse of exponentiation: √. The reason it's not what you want is that exponentiation is fundamentally different from addition and multiplication in that it's not even a little bit commutative. And of the two inverses that you could want to compute, the one with a fixed exponent (x2) is far more common than the one with a fixed base (2x). So that's why it gets a special symbol and the logarithm doesn't.
MDN Web Docs
developer.mozilla.org › en-US › docs › Web › JavaScript › Reference › Operators › Exponentiation
Exponentiation (**) - JavaScript | MDN
July 8, 2025 - The exponentiation (**) operator returns the result of raising the first operand to the power of the second operand. It is equivalent to Math.pow(), except it also accepts BigInts as operands.
Math Insight
mathinsight.org › exponentiation_basic_rules
Basic rules for exponentiation - Math Insight
If $n$ is a positive integer, we define \begin{gather} x^{-n} = \frac{1}{\underbrace{x \times x \times \cdots \times x}_{n \text{ times}}}. \end{gather} Then the rule for the quotient of exponentials works even if $a< b$: \begin{align*} \frac{x^a}{x^b} &= \frac{\quad \underbrace{x \times \cdots \times x}_{a \text{ times}}\quad}{\underbrace{x \times \cdots \times x}_{b \text{ times}}}\\[0.2cm] &= \frac{1}{\underbrace{x \times \cdots \times x}_{b-a \text{ times}}}\\[0.2cm] &=x^{a-b}. \end{align*} When $b>a$, the exponent $a-b$ is a negative number.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Power_of_10
Power of 10 - Wikipedia
January 20, 2026 - In mathematics, a power of 10 is any of the integer powers of the number ten; in other words, ten multiplied by itself a certain number of times (when the power is a positive integer). By definition, the number one is a power (the zeroth power) of ten. The first few non-negative powers of ten ...
Cuemath
cuemath.com › numbers › exponentiation
Exponentiation - Properties, Definition, Formula, Examples
As we know that multiplication is a way to represent repeated addition. Similarly, exponentiation is used to represent repeated multiplication. Our calculations become easier by applying exponentiation properties. The caret (^) symbol is used to represent exponentiation.
Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-sign-called-in-maths
What is the sign ^ called in maths? - Quora
Answer (1 of 3): ( ^ ) this sign is called the carat sign, in maths it’s used to express the power of something.
University of Vermont
uvm.edu › ~cbcafier › cs1210 › book › 04_variables,_statements,_and_expressions › exponentiation.html
Exponentiation – Clayton Cafiero
January 5, 2025 - Exponentiation is a ubiquitous mathematical operation. However, the syntax for exponentiation varies between programming languages. In some languages, the caret (^) is the exponentiation operator. In other languages, including Python, it’s the double-asterisk (**).
FSymbols
fsymbols.com › signs › power
Power signs (math exponent symbols on keyboard)
The exponent is usually shown as a superscript to the right of the base. The exponentiation bⁿ can be read as: b raised to the n-th power, b raised to the power of n, or b raised by the exponent of n, most briefly as b to the n.
Calculator.net
calculator.net › home › math › exponent calculator
Exponent Calculator
This free exponent calculator determines the result of exponentiation, including expressions that use the irrational number e as a base.
Wumbo
wumbo.net › symbols › superscript-one
Superscript One Symbol (¹)
The ‘¹’ (superscript one) symbol is used in mathematics to denote the power of a number or variable.
Mathnasium
mathnasium.com › math-centers › friscoeast › news › what-is-exponent
What Is an Exponent? A Complete, Beginner-Friendly Guide
December 4, 2025 - In math, the caret symbol (^) is used to represent exponents when it’s not possible to write numbers in superscript.
BYJUS
byjus.com › maths › exponent
Exponent Meaning
The symbol used for representing the exponent is ^. This symbol (^) is called a carrot. For example, 4 raised to 2 can be written as 4^2 or 42. Thus, 4^2 = 4 × 4 = 16.
Published November 3, 2021 Views 17K
Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › dictionary › exponent
EXPONENT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
January 28, 2026 - The meaning of EXPONENT is a symbol written above and to the right of a mathematical expression to indicate the operation of raising to a power. How to use exponent in a sentence. Did you know?
Davenport University
davenport.libguides.com › math-skills-overview › exponents › definition
Definition of Exponents & Radicals - Math Skills Overview Guide - Library Guides at Davenport University
Exponents - An exponent is the power p in an expression of the form $$a^p$$ The process of performing the operation of raising a base to a given power is known as exponentiation. (where a ≠0) Radicals - The symbol $$\sqrt[n]{x}$$ used to indicate a root is called a radical and is therefore read "x radical n," or "the nth root of x." In the radical symbol, the horizontal line is called the vinculum, the quantity under the vinculum is called the radicand, and the quantity n written to the left is called the index.
Quora
quora.com › Why-does-people-choose-to-use-the-symbol-for-exponentiation-in-computer-keyboard-Is-it-related-to-Knuth-up-arrow-notation
Why does people choose to use the symbol ^ for exponentiation in computer keyboard? Is it related to Knuth up-arrow notation? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): Most people who are using ^ as an operator for exponentiation are doing so because that’s specified by their programming or scripting language. Those language designers who choose this syntax are probably doing so with the knowledge that it’s one of two common notations ...
Squared Symbol
squaredsymbol.com
Squared Symbol ²
Learn how to type, copy, and use the superscript 2 symbol across different platforms and applications.