The “@” symbol is something we use almost every day—whether in email addresses or tagging friends on social media. But did you know that its history goes back over 500 years? The symbol first appeared in the 1500s, when it was used by monks as a shorthand for the Latin word “ad.” It then became a key element in trade and accounting, before nearly disappearing—until it was revived in 1971 by computer engineer Ray Tomlinson, who chose it to connect usernames and hostnames in email addresses. Today, the “@” symbol is a global icon that has shaped the way we communicate online. Discover the hidden story of this everyday symbol and how it became a worldwide connector!
