Left Arrow Symbol (←)

The left arrow (←) points back — 'previous', 'go back', and 'this one' in lists and instructions.

←

Leftwards Arrow · U+2190 · Arrow Symbols

Click the symbol or the button to copy it, then paste it anywhere — documents, messages, bios and code.

Left Arrow codes

Code	Value
Unicode code point	`U+2190`
Unicode name	`Leftwards Arrow`
HTML named entity	`←`
HTML decimal	`←`
HTML hex	`←`
CSS content code	`\2190`
JavaScript / JSON	`\u2190`
Windows Alt code	No standard Alt code — copy it from the card above

Left Arrow variants (8)

8 related glyphs — click any tile to copy it. Tiles with a page open that symbol's own page.

→Rightwards Arrow⇐Leftwards Double Arrow⇦Leftwards White Arrow⬅Leftwards Black Arrow⟵Long Leftwards Arrow↩Leftwards Arrow With Hook↙South West Arrow↖North West Arrow

Meaning & usage

← is the direction of return: back buttons, previous pages, 'the answer is ← in the table', and replies pointing at something earlier. In chemistry it marks a reaction that runs in reverse, and in maths it can mean assignment — values flowing left into a variable. Its mirror → gets more glory, but ← is the one that saves you when you took a wrong turn, in documents and in interfaces alike.

Examples in use

← Back to results
The form is ← on the previous page
Swipe ← for more photos

How to type the left arrow

Windows

There is no Alt code or direct key for ←. In Microsoft Word, type 2190 and press Alt+X to convert it. Everywhere else, click the Copy button at the top of this page and paste it (Ctrl+V) — that always works.

Mac

There is no Option-key shortcut for ← on a Mac. Open the Character Viewer with Control+Command+Space, search for "Left Arrow", and double-click to insert — or copy it from this page.

iPhone & Android

Most phone keyboards have no built-in key for ←. Open this page on your phone, tap Copy, then paste it into your message or bio. (On Android, Gboard's emoji search finds some symbols by name.)

Linux

Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 2190 and press Enter (works in most GTK apps and terminals with IBus). Or copy it from this page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I type ← on a keyboard?

There is no standard key. Copy it from this page; in Word type 2190 then Alt+X, and on Linux Ctrl+Shift+U then 2190 and Enter.

What is the difference between ← and ↩?

← is a straight left arrow. ↩ curves with a hook — it means reply or return (email reply buttons), not just 'point left'.

Why does ← sometimes show as a box or question mark?

The box (called tofu) means the device or font viewing it has no drawing for U+2190 (Leftwards Arrow). The character itself is fine — try a different font or a newer device, or use one of the variants on this page.

Is the Left Arrow free to use?

Yes. ← is a standard Unicode text character published in the Unicode Character Database. You may use it in personal and commercial documents, designs and products without permission or payment.

Related symbols

→Right Arrow →Arrow Symbols ↑Up Arrow