Emptyset in LaTeX

The LaTeX command for emptyset (∅) is \emptyset (empty set).

\emptyset

Sets · Unicode ∅ (U+2205) · no package needed

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Which command should you use?

Command	Package	Use it when
`\emptyset` recommended	none	Built in: a slashed zero.
`\varnothing`	`amssymb`	Round form, closer to most textbooks.
`\{\}`	none	A pair of braces, also correct.

Table 1. Ways to write emptyset in LaTeX. Every line was compiled with pdfLaTeX (TeX Live 2026) loading only the package shown.

Common mistake. \phi and \varphi are Greek letters, and \O is the Danish letter in text: none of them is the empty set.

How to type Emptyset

Write \emptyset inside math mode, that is between $…$ for inline math or in a \[ … \] or equation block for display math. It is part of core LaTeX math, so no extra package is required.

Example

$A \cap B = \emptyset$

A \cap B = \emptyset

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Often confused with

Phi \phi (ϕ)
Varphi \varphi (φ): variant phi (script)
Varnothing \varnothing (∅): variant empty set (preferred)

Related Sets symbols

\varnothing\mathbb{N}\mathbb{Z}\mathbb{Q}\mathbb{R}\mathbb{C}\mathbb{F}^\complement\bigcap\bigcup\bigsqcup\uplus\biguplus\mathcal{P}

Set symbols in LaTeX: the full table or search all 350+ LaTeX symbols.

FAQ

How do you write emptyset (∅) in LaTeX?

Use \emptyset in math mode; it needs no extra package. For example, $A \cap B = \emptyset$.

Which package provides \emptyset?

None: \emptyset is built into LaTeX, so no extra package is required.

What is the most common mistake with emptyset in LaTeX?

\phi and \varphi are Greek letters, and \O is the Danish letter in text: none of them is the empty set.