Mathematical Italic Small L 𝑙

Visual Description: It is a slender lowercase l with a gentle italic tilt. The line is taller than a standard l and slightly curved. The stroke is smooth and uniform, designed for quick eye tracking in equations. In math fonts, this symbol has a refined, airy appearance that avoids crowding nearby symbols.

Meaning & Usage: This italic l marks a variable or a function name in mathematics. It helps distinguish letters that represent quantities from digits and operators. In many formulas, it acts as a placeholder that can take different values. It also appears in coordinates and as a unit symbol in code-like contexts.

Historical Background: The italic style of mathematical letters grew with the need to separate variables from numeric constants in dense texts. Early typesetting favored slanted forms to signal variable roles. Over time, printers and writers standardized the italic lowercase l for clarity, especially in long equations and tables used in math and science work.

Practical Use: In digital tools, this italic l appears in formulas and inputs to denote a variable. It can be typed with math keyboards or picked from quick UI controls for comparisons, like less-than or equals checks, in calculators and CAS interfaces. Designers keep the glyph distinct to prevent misreadings during quick calculations.

See our category page for related symbols.

Look‑alikes: l (U+6C).

Need styled alternatives? Try the Fancy Text tool.