The "vertical bar" is a common symbol used in mathematics, computer programming, and typography. It is represented by the character "|", and is also known as the pipe symbol. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word "vertical" is pronounced as /ˈvɜrtɪkəl/, while "bar" is pronounced as /bɑːr/. Therefore, the spelling of "vertical bar" is represented in IPA as /ˈvɜrtɪkəl bɑːr/. This symbol is often used to separate or group elements in mathematical expressions or to denote the start and end of a section of text or code.
A vertical bar is a symbol or punctuation mark that is represented by a straight, upright line. It is commonly represented by the symbol "|". The vertical bar has multiple applications across various fields including mathematics, computer programming, and typography.
In mathematics, the vertical bar is primarily used to denote absolute value. For instance, if "x" represents a real number, then |x| implies the absolute value of "x" which is the magnitude of the number without consideration of its sign.
In computer programming, the vertical bar has diverse functionalities. It can represent the logical operator "or" in Boolean algebra. Additionally, it is utilized in regular expressions to denote alternation, meaning that any of the expressions separated by the vertical bar can match. In coding languages like C, C++, and Python, the vertical bar is also used as the bitwise inclusive OR operator.
Moreover, in typography, the vertical bar is employed as a delimiter or separator. For example, it is commonly used to indicate a logical OR in compound statements. It is also utilized to separate columns in tabular data or when representing a logical vertical partition in a graph or chart.
Overall, the vertical bar serves a multifunctional purpose across different domains and is a fundamental symbol used to denote various operations, relationships, and separations.
The word "vertical" comes from the Latin word "verticalis", which means "perpendicular to the horizon". It is derived from the Latin word "vertex", meaning "top, summit". The word "bar" comes from the Old English word "bær", which originally referred to a piece of wood or metal that was used for various purposes such as support or obstruction. In combination, "vertical bar" refers to a straight line that is perpendicular to the horizon and resembles a bar.