Left-Pointing Double Angle Quotation Mark «

« (U+AB) 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: Left-Pointing Double Angle Quotation Mark is part of the Symbols family (block: Latin-1 Supplement). 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 Left-Pointing Double Angle Quotation Mark is a punctuation symbol used as an opening quote in some languages. Its code point is U+AB, in the Latin-1 Supplement block, and it is part of the common script group. In typography, it marks quoted text and helps show who speaks. In writing, structure and tone are guided by punctuation marks, and the choice of opening quote can change emphasis or formality. The conventions for this mark vary by style and locale, so usage differs across texts and regions. It can appear in pairs or in specific typographic traditions that favor angular quotes. As a quotation mark, it works with the closing double angle mark to enclose speech or cited material. This symbol also appears in code and parameter lists where quotes delimit strings or strings within data. In everyday text, it helps readers identify quoted material at a glance. While not as common as straight quotation marks in some systems, it remains a recognizable tool in multilingual writing. Overall, it serves a practical role in signaling quoted content and shaping reading rhythm.

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