Less-Than Closed by Curve ⪦

⪦ (U+2AA6) 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: Less-Than Closed by Curve is part of the Symbols family (block: Supplemental Mathematical Operators). 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 LESS-THAN CLOSED BY CURVE symbol has the code point U+2AA6. It is part of the Supplemental Mathematical Operators block. In practice, it appears in formulas and user interfaces to convey a nonstandard form of comparison. It helps show a relation that is close to less-than but with a curved closure that suggests a different meaning or emphasis. Users encounter it in advanced math, logic, and technical documents where precise comparison marks matter. The symbol is read as a variant of the less-than sign and is treated as a mathematical operator in most fonts and keyboards. Designers use it to distinguish similar relations without creating new words. In digital text, it is often grouped with other specialized operators for consistent rendering in mathematical contexts. Its history reflects the need for a wider set of symbols beyond basic signs. This symbol, like others in its block, supports clear communication in formulas and interfaces. It signals a specific, formal relation that readers can recognize without extra explanation.

Copy and input: the quickest method is to copy the character here. You can also insert it by its codepoint U+2AA6 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.