What is the Unicode value for the anticlockwise top semicircle arrow?

U+21B6 (hex 21B6, decimal 8630). Official Unicode name: ANTICLOCKWISE TOP SEMICIRCLE ARROW. Block: Arrows. The glyph is often used for undo, rewind, or counterclockwise rotation in interfaces.

When should I use the anticlockwise arrow in web content?

In navigation and toolbars, undo or history controls, media rewind, rotation labels, flowcharts, and any UI that must show counterclockwise direction in plain HTML.

What is the difference between HTML character references and a CSS escape for U+21B6?

Markup uses named or numeric references in HTML text. CSS uses a backslash hex escape inside rules such as content on pseudo-elements. Same code point; different syntax layer.

Is there a named HTML entity for U+21B6?

Yes. The standard name is cularr (with entity punctuation in markup). It is a readable alternative to numeric references for this arrow.

HTML Entity for Anticlockwise Arrow (↶)

Q: How do I display the anticlockwise arrow (U+21B6) in HTML?

Use the named entity cularr with standard entity delimiters, or hexadecimal 21B6 or decimal 8630 numeric references, or a CSS hex escape in the content property. All map to the same Arrows block character.

Beginner

⏱️ 5 min read

📚 Updated: May 2026

🎯 1 Code Example

Unicode U+21B6

HTML Entity for anticlockwise top semicircle arrow (U+21B6) tutorial illustration

What You'll Learn

How to display the anticlockwise top semicircle arrow (↶, U+21B6) in HTML. Unicode’s official name is ANTICLOCKWISE TOP SEMICIRCLE ARROW; it is the curved arrow often labeled “anticlockwise” or “undo” in toolbars. It lives in the Arrows block.

You can write it as the named entity &cularr; (omit the zero-width space when typing: ampersand + cularr + semicolon), as ↶ or ↶, or via CSS content with \21B6 or \021B6 when a terminator is needed. Pair icon-only uses with visible text or aria-label so the action (for example Undo), not only the shape, is clear.

⚡ Quick Reference — Anticlockwise arrow (↶)

Unicode U+21B6

Arrows

Hex Code ↶

Hexadecimal reference

HTML Code ↶

Decimal reference

Named Entity &cularr;

Remove U+200B when typing; shown only so the table does not collapse the reference.

Reference Table

Name           Value
────────────   ──────────
Unicode        U+21B6
Hex code       &#x21B6;
HTML code      &#8630;
Named entity   &cularr;
CSS code       \21B6

Complete HTML Example

This example shows U+21B6 using hexadecimal, decimal, the named cularr entity, and a CSS content escape. In your own file, write the named form without the zero-width space used in this table.

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
 <style>
  #point:after{
   content: "\21B6";
  }
 </style>
</head>
<body>

<p>Anticlockwise Arrow using Hexa Decimal: &#x21B6;</p>
<p>Anticlockwise Arrow using HTML Code: &#8630;</p>
<p>Anticlockwise Arrow using HTML Entity: &cularr;</p>
<p id="point">Anticlockwise Arrow using CSS Entity: </p>

</body>
</html>

Try It Yourself

🌐 Browser Support

The cularr named reference and numeric forms for U+21B6 are supported in all modern browsers. Rendering depends on fonts that include Arrows:

Chrome 1+

Firefox 1+

Safari 1+

Edge 12+

Opera 4+

Android 4.4+

iOS Safari 1+

👀 Live Preview

See U+21B6 in short UI-style snippets:

Isolated glyph ↶

With label ↶ Undo

Numeric refs Same arrow as ↶ or ↶ in UTF-8 text.

Monospace U+21B6 ANTICLOCKWISE TOP SEMICIRCLE ARROW

Pairing Use with a clockwise mate (for example U+21B7) when both directions appear in one control strip.

🧠 How It Works

Named entity

The short name cularr (with leading ampersand and semicolon) resolves to U+21B6. It is easy to read in hand-authored UI HTML.

HTML markup

Numeric references

↶ (decimal) and ↶ (hex) are equivalent for this arrow.

HTML markup

CSS escape

\21B6 (or \021B6 with a following space if the next character is hex) in content on ::before / ::after emits U+21B6 from a stylesheet.

CSS stylesheet

Same code point

All paths expose U+21B6 (Arrows). Official name: ANTICLOCKWISE TOP SEMICIRCLE ARROW. Prefer named or numeric references in markup; use CSS escapes only in stylesheets.

✅

Use Cases

The anticlockwise arrow (U+21B6) fits these kinds of content:

🔧 Undo and history

Editors, forms, and apps where users revert the last change.

🎤 Media controls

Rewind or skip-back affordances next to play and pause.

🔄 Rotation UI

Image viewers and maps that expose rotate-left or counterclockwise actions.

📈 Diagrams

Flow direction on arcs and process figures in HTML or SVG-adjacent docs.

📘 Technical writing

Rotation conventions in geometry, mechanics, or signal processing articles.

🏗 Wayfinding

Maps or kiosks that need a compact counterclockwise cue (with a text label).

♿ Accessibility

Always expose the action in words or aria-label, not only the curved glyph.

💡 Best Practices

Do

Prefer cularr (ampersand + cularr + semicolon) or numeric refs for portable UI snippets
Pair the symbol with visible text such as “Undo” or an equivalent on buttons
Use a font stack that includes good Arrows coverage for toolbar density
Use \21B6 only inside CSS content, not raw in HTML text
Offer a clockwise counterpart when users must choose direction explicitly

Don’t

Rely on the glyph alone for safety-critical or irreversible actions
Confuse U+21B6 with the return arrow (U+21A9) or other curved arrows in the same block
Paste CSS escapes into HTML markup (wrong layer)
Use tiny icons without touch targets or focus styles on mobile
Forget keyboard equivalents when the arrow only appears on hover-heavy desktop layouts

Key Takeaways

Named + numeric ways to write U+21B6

&cularr; ↶ ↶

CSS content escape

\21B6

Unicode U+21B6 — ANTICLOCKWISE TOP SEMICIRCLE ARROW

Arrows — navigation, undo, rewind, rotation

Label the action for assistive tech; the shape alone is ambiguous

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How do I display the anticlockwise arrow (U+21B6) in HTML?

Use the named cularr reference (ampersand + cularr + semicolon), ↶, or ↶ in text. For CSS-only generated text, \21B6 in content works.

What is the Unicode value and official name?

U+21B6 (decimal 8630, hex 21B6). Official name: ANTICLOCKWISE TOP SEMICIRCLE ARROW. Block: Arrows.

Is cularr the same character as the hex reference?

Yes. The named entity cularr is defined for U+21B6; numeric references are alternative spellings of the same code point.

What’s the difference between HTML numeric references and a CSS escape?

Markup uses ↶, ↶, or the named form in text nodes. CSS uses backslash hex escapes inside content rules. Same code point; different syntax layer.

Should I use this glyph for a generic “refresh” button?

Users often expect a circular arrows icon for reload. U+21B6 reads strongly as counterclockwise or undo; match the symbol to the real action or pick a different code point (for example U+21BB CLOCKWISE OPEN CIRCLE ARROW when you need the clockwise partner, or a dedicated refresh pattern from your icon set).

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About the author

Mari Selvan M P 🔗

Developer, cloud engineer, and technical writer

Experience 12 years building web and cloud systems
Focus Full Stack Development, AWS, and Developer Education

I write practical tutorials so students and working developers can learn by doing—from databases and APIs to deployment on AWS.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate (Credly)

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Ankh (☥) Anticlockwise Closed Circle Arrow (⥀)