Zero Width Non-joiner Symbol
The zero width non-joiner (U+200C) is an invisible character that affects how adjacent characters connect in some scripts.
U+200C
The ZERO WIDTH NON-JOINER (U+200C) is an invisible punctuation character. It doesn’t display on screen, but it can change text shaping rules in scripts that support joining forms. You can copy it to prevent or control character connections where needed.
Zero Width Non-joiner Symbol Meaning
ZERO WIDTH NON-JOINER (U+200C) is an invisible Unicode punctuation mark used to influence how certain letters form when they appear next to each other. In scripts with contextual shaping and joining behavior, adding U+200C can prevent two characters from joining into a single connected form. Despite being “zero width,” it still counts as a real character in text, which means it can be saved, copied, and transferred between systems. It’s commonly used in situations where you need to control joining behavior for correct spelling, rendering, or display consistency.
Common uses
- •Prevent unwanted joining between adjacent letters in scripts that support connected forms
- •Fix or normalize text when pasted content renders with incorrect ligatures or joins
- •Ensure consistent display in usernames, IDs, or names that must preserve specific character boundaries
- •Support linguistically correct segmentation in writing systems that use joining behavior
- •Control typography behavior in editors or publishing workflows where character shaping matters
Examples
Zero Width Non-Joiner (ZWNJ)
- Textwithinvisibleseparators.
- ABCD (forces a non-joining boundary).
- NameExample (keeps two letters from connecting).
- WordWord (prevents join-form rendering).
- Pasteandrender (adjusts shaping behavior).
Variations
Ready to copy
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+200C | |
| HTML Entity | ‌ | |
| HTML Code | ‌ | |
| CSS | \200C |
FAQ
What does the Zero Width Non-joiner symbol mean?
ZERO WIDTH NON-JOINER (U+200C) is an invisible Unicode punctuation mark used to influence how certain letters form when they appear next to each other. In scripts with contextual shaping and joining behavior, adding U+200C can prevent two characters from joining into a single connected form. Despite being “zero width,” it still counts as a real character in text, which means it can be saved, copied, and transferred between systems. It’s commonly used in situations where you need to control joining behavior for correct spelling, rendering, or display consistency.
What is the ZERO WIDTH NON-JOINER symbol?
It’s the invisible Unicode character U+200C (named ZERO WIDTH NON-JOINER). It affects joining behavior in scripts that use contextual shaping.
How do I copy the symbol?
Copy the character shown on this page (). You can also paste the HTML entity (‌) or the Unicode escapes like \\u{200C} in supporting environments.
Will it be visible in my text?
No. It has zero width, so it typically won’t display as a glyph, but it still changes how nearby characters may render.
Does it work in all fonts and platforms?
It depends on the script and rendering engine. The character exists everywhere as U+200C, but whether it changes shaping can vary by font and text renderer.