free-symbols

North West Arrow Symbol

The ↖ symbol (north west arrow) indicates movement or direction toward the upper-left.

U+2196

The ↖ character is the North West Arrow. It’s commonly used to show an upward-left direction in text. You can copy it directly or use its Unicode/HTML/CSS escapes in code.

North West Arrow Symbol Meaning

↖ is a “north west” (upper-left) arrow. Visually, it combines an upward arrow and a leftward arrow, making it useful when you want to indicate direction in plain text. It often appears in UI labels, instructions, and quick status notes where a full icon isn’t necessary. In writing, it can also serve as a compact marker for headings, navigation cues, or items that move toward the top-left of a layout. Because it’s a standard Unicode character (U+2196), it works reliably across modern fonts and systems when supported.

Common uses

  • Directional cues in instructions (e.g., “move ↖ to reach the entrance”).
  • UI and menu navigation hints (back/previous style indicators toward the upper-left).
  • Annotating diagrams or wireframes in text (highlighting an upper-left point).
  • Tagging items in lists or spreadsheets with a quick visual direction marker.
  • Designing lightweight labels for games, apps, or maps using a simple arrow.

Examples

↖ North West Arrow Symbol

  • Press ↖ to return to the previous screen.
  • Follow the sign and go ↖ at the fork.
  • The marked corner is located ↖ of the center point.
  • Use the ↖ arrow key to move the character up-left.
  • Change the setting by selecting ↖ in the navigation panel.

Variations

Ready to copy

Technical codes

UnicodeU+2196
HTML Entity↖
HTML Code↖
CSS\2196

FAQ

What is the Unicode code point for ↖?

The Unicode code point for ↖ is U+2196.

How can I copy ↖ into HTML?

Use the HTML entity: ↖ or copy the character directly.

What does ↖ typically mean in text?

It most commonly indicates an upper-left direction (north west) in navigation, instructions, and UI cues.

What escape sequences can I use in code?

CSS escape: \\2196, JavaScript escape: \\u{2196}.

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