Leftwards Harpoon With Barb Downwards Symbol
↽ is a leftwards harpoon arrow with a barb pointing downward.
U+21BD
The symbol ↽ (U+21BD) is an arrow-style character used to indicate a leftward direction with a distinctive harpoon/barb shape. It’s handy in diagrams, UI text, and typographic accents. Use the copy options below to insert it reliably in your work.
Leftwards Harpoon With Barb Downwards Symbol Meaning
↽, named “LEFTWARDS HARPOON WITH BARB DOWNWARDS” (U+21BD), is a directional arrow symbol pointing left, with a harpoon-like head and a barb that goes downward. Visually, it’s often used to suggest “retracting,” “pointing back,” or “sending something to the left,” especially when you want a stronger or more specific arrow than a simple left arrow. Because of its distinctive form, it’s also useful as a stylistic marker in text—such as labeling an action, indicating a selection or navigation cue, or adding emphasis in writing and user interface copy.
Common uses
- •Use in flow diagrams to show movement or linkage to the left (e.g., returning or backtracking).
- •Add direction cues in UI text, tooltips, or help messages that refer to left-side navigation.
- •Label transitions in presentations and infographics (e.g., “move left” steps in a process).
- •Create typographic accents in documents or posters to highlight backward/leftward actions.
- •Use as a decorative arrow marker in chat messages, comments, or annotation notes.
Examples
↽ Leftwards Harpoon with Barb Downwards
- ↽Step 2: ↽ move the item to the left lane.
- ↽Return to the previous screen ↽
- ↽↽ indicates the direction of the next connection.
- ↽Drag left to apply the setting ↽
- ↽Warning: follow the arrow ↽
Variations
Ready to copy
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+21BD | |
| HTML Entity | ↽ | |
| HTML Code | ↽ | |
| CSS | \21BD | |
| Alt Code | Alt + 8637 | |
| Decimal | 8637 |
How to type Leftwards Harpoon With Barb Downwards Symbol (↽)
On Windows
Hold Alt and type 8637 on the numeric keypad. In Word, type 21BD then press Alt + X.
On Mac
Switch to the Unicode Hex Input keyboard, then hold Option and type 21BD. Or press Control + Command + Space and search.
On Linux
Press Control + Shift + U, type 21bd, then press Enter or Space.
Anywhere
Copy ↽ with the button above and paste it wherever you need it — this works on every device and in every app, with no keyboard shortcut to remember.
FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for ↽?
↽ is U+21BD.
What does the name “LEFTWARDS HARPOON WITH BARB DOWNWARDS” describe?
It describes a left-pointing harpoon-style arrow whose barb is directed downward.
How can I copy ↽ into my project?
Copy the character directly from this page. For code, you can also use the HTML entity ↽ or CSS escape \\21BD.
Is ↽ the same as a standard left arrow (←)?
No. ↽ has a distinctive harpoon head and downward barb, so it’s used when you want a different visual style than the plain left arrow.