Leftwards Arrow with Tail ↢
↢ (U+21A2) 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: Leftwards Arrow with Tail 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: The character LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH TAIL (U+21A2) belongs to the Arrows block in Unicode. In plain text, it is used to show direction or a back navigation cue. Arrows commonly indicate direction and navigation cues in interfaces and documents. Its history is tied to the idea of showing where to go next or to move back in a sequence. In many layouts, this symbol guides users through menus, forms, and help sections. In text, it can mark steps or indicate a returned flow. The tail on the arrow helps distinguish it from simple left arrows. In digital typography, it is part of the common set of symbols used for navigation. Designers may pair it with other arrows to create a breadcrumb or a back action. Accessibility wise, the symbol is often given a descriptive label for screen readers. When used, keep contrast high and place it where a back action makes sense. The character is listed as LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH TAIL with the codepoint U+21A2 in the Common script. This helps ensure consistent interpretation across platforms.
Copy and input: the quickest method is to copy the character here. You can also insert it by its codepoint U+21A2 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.
Technical details
- Codepoint:
U+21A2 - General Category:
So - Age:
1.1 - Bidi Class:
ON - Block:
Arrows - Script:
Common - UTF-8:
E2 86 A2 - UTF-16:
21A2 - UTF-32:
000021A2 - HTML dec:
↢ - HTML hex:
↢ - JS escape:
\u21A2 - Python \N{}:
\N{LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH TAIL} - Python \u:
\u21A2 - Python \U:
\U000021A2 - URL-encoded:
%E2%86%A2 - CSS escape:
\21A2
How to type / insert
Fast copy: click the Copy button near the top of this page.
By codepoint: in many editors and IDEs, you can insert via the Unicode code U+21A2 or a built‑in character picker.
HTML: use the numeric entity ↢ (hex) or ↢ (decimal) when an HTML entity is needed.
Compatibility & troubleshooting
Font support: if the symbol does not render, the current font likely lacks this codepoint. Choose a font with broad Unicode coverage or allow a fallback font.
Web pages: ensure your CSS font stack includes a general fallback; avoid relying on images for common symbols to preserve accessibility and copyability.