The ampersand (&) is a symbol that represents the word "and." It originated from the Latin word "et," which means "and." The symbol combines the letters "e" and "t" into a single character, making it a convenient shorthand in writing. It is commonly used in various contexts, such as in business names, titles, and lists. In typography, the ampersand is considered a ligature, which is a combination of two or more letters into one symbol. It is often used in design and branding to create a visually appealing representation of the word "and." The ampersand has a rich history and is recognized in many languages and cultures.