Circled and Squared Letters
A letter or number inside a circle or square looks like an icon but is a single Unicode character with its own code point, not an image or a styled font. Unicode covers circled, negative circled, squared and negative squared versions for most letters and a long run of numbers.
They show up in numbered lists that want a self-contained marker, informal ratings, and anywhere a plain number needs to look like a badge without loading an icon file. None of these have a Windows Alt code.
Questions
What is the difference between a circled letter and a negative circled letter?
A circled letter has a dark outline on a light background. A negative circled letter is the reverse, a light letter on a solid dark circle.
How high do circled numbers go?
Unicode’s main circled number set runs to 20, with a further extended range covering higher numbers with less universal font support.
Is there an Alt code for a circled letter?
No. Copy the character directly, or use its Unicode value.
Are circled letters read aloud differently by screen readers?
Often, yes. A screen reader may announce a circled letter by its full Unicode name, such as “circled latin small letter a”, rather than reading it as a plain letter.
Why are circled numbers common in Japanese documents?
Circled numbers are widely used there for ordered lists and footnotes, which is part of why Unicode’s circled number range extends further than most Western lists ever need.