HTML Entity for Anticlockwise Open Circle Arrow (↺)
Beginner
6 min read
Updated: Sep 2026
1 example
Unicode U+21BA
Definition
What Is the Anticlockwise Open Circle Arrow Entity?
Anticlockwise open circle arrow (↺) is Unicode U+21BA in the Arrows block. It is an open circular arrow turning anticlockwise — often used for refresh, undo, or rotate-left cues. HTML provides the named entity ↺.
Remember
Character ↺
Unicode U+21BA
Hex entity ↺
Decimal ↺
Named entity ↺
CSS escape \21BA
Partner ↻ U+21BB → ↻
All of these produce the same glyph: ↺. Prefer ↺ in hand-written HTML; type ↺ in UTF-8 when you can; use numeric or CSS forms for generated content.
Anticlockwise open circle arrow in common UI and study contexts.
Inline UI label↺ Refresh
Large glyph↺
vs. related arrows↺ open · ↻ clockwise · ⥀ closed · ↶ semicircle
Button-style[ ↺ ] Undo
With entitiesNamed: ↺ | Hex: ↺ | Decimal: ↺
Code
Complete HTML Example
One page that shows ↺ with hex, decimal, named entity, CSS escape, and a typed character. Use View Output or open the live editor.
Hex + Decimal + Named + CSS + Typed
Five ways to produce ↺ in a single document.
html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Anticlockwise Open Circle Arrow (↺) in HTML</title>
<style>
#point::after {
content: "\21BA";
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Open circle using Hex Code: ↺</p>
<p>Open circle using HTML Code: ↺</p>
<p>Open circle using Named Entity: ↺</p>
<p id="point">Open circle using CSS Entity: </p>
<p>Typed directly: ↺</p>
</body>
</html>
Open circle using Hex Code: ↺
Open circle using HTML Code: ↺
Open circle using Named Entity: ↺
Open circle using CSS Entity: ↺
Typed directly: ↺
How It Works
1. Hex:U+21BA → ↺ in HTML. The browser turns it into ↺.
2. Decimal: same code point as 8634 → ↺. Same result as hex.
3. Named:↺ is the standard HTML name for U+21BA — clear in source.
4. CSS: use \21BA in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that ↺ after the paragraph text.
5. Typed ↺: fine in UTF-8 source. All five lines show the same glyph.
Pitfalls & Tips
Common mistakes when working with the anticlockwise open circle arrow (↺) entity.
Direction
Do not swap with clockwise
↺ is ↺. ↻ is ↻. Match the action you mean.
Family
Open ≠ closed ≠ semicircle
↺ ≠ ⟲ ≠ ↶. Pick the arrow shape your UI metaphor needs.
CSS vs HTML
Do not mix escapes
\21BA belongs in CSS. ↺ / ↺ belong in HTML.
Fonts
Arrow coverage varies
Some UI fonts omit curved Arrows-block glyphs. Prefer fonts with solid arrow coverage.
A11y
Label the action
Pair ↺ with text like “Refresh” so meaning does not rely on the glyph alone.
Semicolon
End references
Always finish with ; — write ↺, not &olarr.
Compatibility
Browser Support
Anticlockwise open circle arrow (U+21BA) and its entity forms (↺, ↺, ↺, CSS \\21BA) are supported in all mainstream browsers. Glyph availability depends on font support for the Arrows block.
✓ Universal support
Anticlockwise Open Circle Arrow (↺)
Type ↺, or encode with named, hex, decimal, or CSS escape — same glyph everywhere encoding is supported.
100%Browser coverage
Google ChromeSupported
Yes
Microsoft EdgeSupported
Yes
Mozilla FirefoxSupported
Yes
Apple SafariSupported
Yes
OperaSupported
Yes
Internet ExplorerAll versions
Yes
U+21BA / entitiesFull support
Bottom line: Prefer ↺ or a typed ↺ for normal text. Use numeric forms when generating markup, and \\21BA only inside CSS content.
Remember
Key Takeaways
Unicode: anticlockwise open circle arrow is U+21BA (decimal 8634).
Use ↺ (hex), ↺ (decimal), ↺ (named), or the CSS escape \21BA in the content property. All render ↺. You can also paste ↺ directly if your file is UTF-8.
U+21BA (hex 21BA, decimal 8634). Unicode names it Anticlockwise open circle arrow. It belongs to the Arrows block (U+2190–U+21FF).
Yes. ↺ maps to U+21BA. Prefer it in hand-written HTML; numeric forms are useful in generated markup or XML contexts.
Use ↺ for an open-circle anticlockwise cue (refresh/undo). Use ↻ (↻) for clockwise open circle, and ⟲ (U+2940) for a closed full-circle anticlockwise arrow.
HTML entities (↺, ↺, or ↺) go in markup. The CSS escape \21BA is used in stylesheets (usually in the content property of ::before/::after). Both render ↺.
No. ↶ (U+21B6 / ↶) is a top semicircle. ↺ (U+21BA) is an open circle arrow — different shapes for different UI metaphors.
🤔
Did you know?
Anticlockwise open circle arrow is Unicode U+21BA (decimal 8634) in the Arrows block. HTML provides the named entity ↺. The glyph ↺ is common for refresh, undo, or rotate-left cues — not the same as clockwise ↻ (U+21BB / ↻) or closed-circle ⟲ (U+2940).
