Leftwards Arrow with Double Vertical Stroke ⇺

⇺ (U+21FA) 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 Double Vertical Stroke 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 LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH DOUBLE VERTICAL STROKE is a character in the Arrows block with the code point U+21FA. It is part of the Common script. In use, it signals backward movement or a return to a previous point. It helps readers navigate sequences, lists, or options. Designers place it to show a back action in menus, forms, and diagrams. In media controls, it can imply rewind or step back. The character combines a leftward direction with a distinctive double vertical stroke, which can reduce ambiguity when multiple arrows appear nearby. Users may see it in user interfaces, documents, or schematic drawings where clear navigation cues are needed. The provided usage note states that arrows commonly indicate direction and navigation cues in interfaces and documents. This makes the symbol useful for guiding actions without text. As with other symbols, the meaning should be clarified with accessible text for screen readers. The line between graphic and symbol is small, so authors should ensure context supports its intended backward direction. Overall, it serves as a concise cue for returning to a previous state or position.

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