Downwards Two Headed Arrow ↡

↡ (U+21A1) is a standard Unicode character that you can copy and paste anywhere text is accepted. This page provides a concise reference with safe tips, internal links, and practical guidance so you can use it reliably across apps and platforms.

What it is and where it’s used: Downwards Two Headed Arrow is part of the Symbols family (block: Arrows). If you need styled or decorative alternatives, try our Fancy Text tool to generate compatible text that works in most modern interfaces.

History & usage: DOWNWARDS TWO HEADED ARROW (U+21A1) is a symbol in the Arrows block. It appears in the Common script. In text and interfaces it shows two heads pointing downward. It is used to indicate multiple directions or choices and to suggest navigation. Arrows commonly indicate direction and navigation cues in interfaces and documents. The symbol helps readers compare paths, options, or steps. In history, such arrows evolved from simple direction marks to more complex glyphs in digital typography. Designers use it to imply branching options or alternate routes in menus or flow charts. In documents, it can mark a continuation to a lower section or provide a visual cue for readers. When used in software, it may appear in menus, toolbars, or instructional guides to signal backward or downward movement. This symbol belongs to the Arrows block and is shared across many platforms. It is a compact choice for representing direction without text, making it versatile for legends and diagrams.

Copy and input: the quickest method is to copy the character here. You can also insert it by its codepoint U+21A1 in many development tools or editors. Some operating systems provide a character viewer or input palette that lets you search by name or code and insert the glyph into documents.

Display and fallback: if you see an empty box (tofu) or a placeholder rectangle, the active font might not include this codepoint. Switching to a font with broader Unicode coverage or using a fallback font usually fixes the issue. On the web, ensure the page’s font stack includes a general‑purpose fallback.

Related references: browse the Categories for similar characters. When choosing a symbol, prefer the official codepoint for semantic clarity and better compatibility with search, copy, and accessibility tooling.

See our category page for related symbols.

Related confusable: view similar characters.