Nabla (Del) Symbol (∇)

The nabla (∇) is an upside-down delta named after a Phoenician harp of that shape.

∇

Nabla · U+2207 · Math Symbols

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

Nabla (Del) codes

Code	Value
Unicode code point	`U+2207`
Unicode name	`Nabla`
HTML named entity	`∇`
HTML decimal	`∇`
HTML hex	`∇`
CSS content code	`\2207`
JavaScript / JSON	`\u2207`
Windows Alt code	No standard Alt code — copy it from the card above
LaTeX	`\nabla`

Nabla (Del) variants (2)

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

ΔGreek Capital Letter Delta▽White Down-Pointing Triangle

Meaning & usage

The nabla (∇) is an upside-down delta named after a Phoenician harp of that shape. Vector calculus uses it as 'del', the operator behind gradient, divergence and curl — some of the most-used machinery in physics and engineering.

Examples in use

Copy ∇ into a post, document or message

How to type the nabla (del)

Windows

There is no Alt code or direct key for ∇. In Microsoft Word, type 2207 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 "Nabla (Del)", 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 2207 and press Enter (works in most GTK apps and terminals with IBus). Or copy it from this page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I copy the ∇ symbol?

Click the big ∇ in the card at the top of this page — it copies as a standard Unicode character (U+2207) and pastes anywhere.

How do I type ∇ on a keyboard?

There is no standard keyboard shortcut or Alt code for ∇. Copy it from this page, or in Microsoft Word type 2207 and press Alt+X.

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+2207 (Nabla). The character itself is fine — try a different font or a newer device, or use one of the variants on this page.

Is the Nabla (Del) 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

ΔDelta Symbol ∫Integral Symbol