What are the cross symbols?
A cross is just two lines that meet. What changes the meaning is where they meet and how long each arm is. In text, Unicode gives you dozens of them, and these six shapes are the families you will run into most.
Long stem, short crossbar. The one most people picture first.
Four arms, all the same length. It looks like a plus sign with a past.
Shaped like a capital T, named after the Greek letter.
A diagonal cross, linked to St Andrew and to the flag of Scotland.
A Latin cross with a ring around the junction.
Three bars, the lowest one slanted. Common in Eastern churches.
How to use the cross symbols
They are plain text characters, so there is nothing to install. Three taps and you are done.
Filter by type or search by name until you spot the one you like.
One tap copies it. The preview shows its Unicode and HTML codes.
Paste into a bio, chat, doc or code. Use the mix box to build combos.
Tip: if you see an empty box instead of a symbol, the font on that device lacks the glyph. Switch to a more common cross such as † or ✝, which almost every font supports.
Where are the cross symbols used?
Far beyond church walls. Here is where you will most often see them.
A tiny † or ✝ adds a quiet accent to a profile name or handle.
Obituaries and tributes use † to show that someone has passed away.
Writers reach for † and ‡ when an asterisk has already been used.
Bulletins, devotionals and greeting cards lean on the Latin cross.
Gothic guild names, character titles and lore often borrow ✠ and †.
A red Greek cross became the sign for first aid and medical help.
Jewellery, posters and tattoo mock-ups use crosses as simple shapes.
X marks like ✗ and ✘ flag what is wrong, missing or not chosen.
How to type the cross symbol?
No copy button nearby? Use a shortcut for your device. The dagger † is the easiest to type.
Hold Alt and type 0134 on the number pad for †.
Use 0135 for ‡.
Press Option + T for †.
Option + Shift + 7 gives ‡.
Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 271D, then Enter.
That makes ✝.
In Word, type 271D then press Alt + X.
In HTML, write ✝ for ✝.
Phone keyboards rarely list these. Copy the symbol from the picker above, then paste it, or save it in your keyboard's text shortcuts so it appears when you type a short word like "xcross".