Leftwards Arrow Over Rightwards Arrow ⇆

⇆ (U+21C6) 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 Over Rightwards 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: The symbol is named LEFTWARDS ARROW OVER RIGHTWARDS ARROW and has the codepoint U+21C6. It belongs to the Arrows block and uses the Common script. In plain text, it is used to combine two directions into one mark. The character sits in the arrows set chosen for general use across systems. Arrows commonly indicate direction and navigation cues in interfaces and documents. This helps users understand where to move or how to proceed with a command or link. In practical work, the symbol appears in layouts, forms, and diagrams where two directions are relevant at once. It is part of a wide range of arrow shapes that designers choose from for clarity. The symbol’s history is tied to the broader history of arrows in typography, where symbols evolve to convey motion and choice. For today, it serves as a compact indicator of paired directions in text, menus, and guides. It remains a useful tool in both print and digital materials for signaling navigation and flow.

Copy and input: the quickest method is to copy the character here. You can also insert it by its codepoint U+21C6 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.