Bullets

Bullets are symbols used to mark items in a list in typography. They come in various shapes, including filled discs (often round), squares, diamonds, and other symbols such as arrows or check marks. In printed and digital text, bullets guide readers through a sequence of related points and help separate items clearly. The use of bullets for lists has a long history in typesetting and has been carried into modern word processing and web content through standardized character sets such as Unicode.

In practice, bullet lists typically consist of one or more items, with indentation and optional sublists to show hierarchy. Consistency in bullet style and parallel sentence structure improves clarity. Accessibility considerations include avoiding decorative or highly irregular bullets in important content and ensuring that screen readers can interpret the list structure.

In a different sense, a bullet is the projectile used in firearms. Most modern bullets are metal projectiles designed to be fired from a cartridge. Bullets vary in shape and purpose, with common types including full metal jacket, soft point, and hollow point, which influence expansion, penetration, and safety characteristics. Bullets work with rifled firearms to impart spin for stabilization, and performance depends on factors such as caliber, velocity, and firearm design.

Safety and legal regulation surrounding bullets differ by country and context. Forensic ballistics studies use bullet analysis to identify ammunition and matching firearms based on marks left on projectiles.