Dark Shade Symbol
▓ is the Unicode dark shade symbol (U+2593) used as a blocky shading or pattern element.
U+2593
The symbol ▓ is Unicode character U+2593, commonly called “Dark Shade.” It appears as a dark, block-like pattern that works well in simple visual mockups.
Dark Shade Symbol Meaning
▓ (U+2593) is the Unicode character named “DARK SHADE.” Visually, it behaves like a filled shading block, often used to add contrast, texture, or a “darker” area in text-based layouts. Because it’s a single character, it’s convenient for aligning patterns, representing filled regions, or creating quick visual indicators without images. In practice, people use it in terminals, plain text art, and lightweight UI drafts where consistent characters matter. Its meaning is not strongly tied to a specific culture or concept; it most commonly functions as a visual shade/pattern element.
Common uses
- •Text-based shading in ASCII/Unicode art and posters
- •Creating dotted or textured blocks in plain-text UI mockups
- •Representing a “filled” or “dark” region in charts made from characters
- •Using in status indicators or banners where color isn’t available
- •Designing simple patterns for README files, tickets, and console output
Examples
▓ Dark Shade Symbol (U+2593)
- ▓■■▓■■ to show a dark section in a line
- ▓Usage: ▓▓▓▓▓ (high emphasis) in documentation
- ▓Loading: ▓▓▓░░░ (progress bar style)
- ▓Map: ▓▓▓ (dense area) and ░░░ (open area)
- ▓Legend: ▓ = dark shade, ░ = light shade
Variations
Ready to copy
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+2593 | |
| HTML Entity | ▓ | |
| HTML Code | ▓ | |
| CSS | \2593 |
FAQ
What does the Dark Shade symbol mean?
▓ (U+2593) is the Unicode character named “DARK SHADE.” Visually, it behaves like a filled shading block, often used to add contrast, texture, or a “darker” area in text-based layouts. Because it’s a single character, it’s convenient for aligning patterns, representing filled regions, or creating quick visual indicators without images. In practice, people use it in terminals, plain text art, and lightweight UI drafts where consistent characters matter. Its meaning is not strongly tied to a specific culture or concept; it most commonly functions as a visual shade/pattern element.
What Unicode character is ▓?
▓ is the Unicode character “DARK SHADE” with code point U+2593.
How do I copy ▓ into my text or design tool?
Copy the character directly from this page, or use the provided escapes in HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.
Will ▓ look the same across all devices?
It should render as a dark shade in most Unicode fonts, but appearance can vary slightly depending on the font and platform.
What’s a good use for ▓ compared to ■ or █?
Use ▓ when you want a darker textured/shaded look rather than a fully solid block, especially in character-based patterns and UI drafts.