Colon

A symbol that looks like two periods above each other ( : ) that is found on the same key as the semicolon on standard United States keyboards. Below are some different examples of where a colon is used today.

  1. In an URL to separate the protocol with the address. For example, http://www.computerhope.com.
  2. In MS-DOS and the Windows command line to specify a drive letter. For example, typing in "A:" at the MS-DOS prompt would switch to the A drive or floppy disk drive.
  3. In a spreadsheet formula to specify a range. For example, =sum(A1:A20) would add cells A1 through A20.

Also see: Keyboard definitions, Semicolon