How to type symbols in Google Docs

Docs runs in a browser, so two things people expect from Word are missing: Alt+X does nothing, and on Windows the Alt codes are intercepted by the browser rather than reaching the document.

Insert › Special characters

Search by name, or draw the shape in the box on the right and Docs matches it. The drawing search is genuinely good and is the fastest route when you do not know what a character is called.

Substitutions, for anything you use twice

Tools › Preferences › Substitutions. Map a string you can type to the character. This is the Docs equivalent of Word's AutoCorrect and it is the only shortcut mechanism the editor has.

Equations

Insert › Equation gives a toolbar of mathematical symbols, and accepts \pm, \times and similar LaTeX-style names followed by a space.

The characters people ask about most

Every other place you might be typing, or a page for each character.