The Arabian star, resembling an asterisk, is a decorative symbol used in digital and print media to break up text and create bullet points. It has its own ASCII code and is different from the star and crescent design on some Arab flags.
The Arabian star is a symbol used in standard text involving six or eight points and a central hub. The Arabic star resembles an asterisk, and language semiotics experts reveal that the symbol was originally intended to replace the asterisk on typewriters that had trouble replicating the symbol. Today it is used in digital and print media.
In general, the Arabian star is more decorative than a simple asterisk. Often, the character includes eight points which are not straight lines, but rather rounded oblongs with complex contours. The central hub could be a black circle with a white interior. Alternatively, the ends of the symbol can be block outlines. The result is a striking visual symbol that can be used in many ways in modern text.
These types of symbols could be used to break up text on a page. The Arabian star can also be used as a literary ellipse, for example, to represent various parts of a book chapter, indicating places in the text where there is a significant change in plot or setting, or where the point of view narrative moves from one character to another. These symbols can also be useful in creating bullet points, due to their ornate and decorative design.
The Arabian stars are an official part of the American Standard Code for Information Interchange or the ASCII system. This convention is used to describe characters commonly represented in digital interfaces. Because this symbol has its own ASCII code, computer programs can recreate or manipulate it as needed, although it is not part of most standard English keyboards.
It is important to distinguish between the Arab star as a decorative character in text and the common “star and crescent” design on some flags of Arab countries. In the star and crescent design, the star is a conventional five-pointed star. It has a different symbolism and a different use from the ASCII character.
Part of understanding modern text encoding is knowing the informal names for encoded characters such as the Arabian stars. This type of symbol may not be used much, but when programmers encounter it, they need to know why it is in a particular text or program. Knowing these symbols is also important in layout departments or printing companies where display fonts are a significant part of the design.
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