Leftwards Black Arrow ⬅

⬅ (U+2B05) 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 Black Arrow is part of the Symbols family (block: Miscellaneous Symbols and 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: LEFTWARDS BLACK ARROW (U+2B05) is part of the Miscellaneous Symbols and Arrows block and the Common script. It is used in simple text to show a move to the left. In history, arrows have long served as visual guides in maps, diagrams, and user interfaces. The symbol is easy to recognize and can work across languages. In interfaces, it helps indicate back, previous, or retreat actions. In documents, it can point to the start of a list or a direction. The code point 2B05 places this glyph in a wide group of arrow symbols. It is a standard glyph and can be included in plain text without special tools. People use it when they want a clear, minimal cue for leftward navigation. The arrow is one of several arrows that convey movement and direction. Its simple form keeps the focus on the action rather than the design. In practice, it appears in menus, guides, and diagrams where quick direction signals are useful. Usage remains consistent: a leftward cue for steps, back actions, or to indicate previous content.

Copy and input: the quickest method is to copy the character here. You can also insert it by its codepoint U+2B05 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.