HTML Entity for Bidirectional Arrow Block (↹)
What You'll Learn
How to display the ↹ glyph used on many Tab key legends. Its official Unicode name is LEFTWARDS ARROW TO BAR OVER RIGHTWARDS ARROW TO BAR (U+21B9), in the Arrows block. Tutorials often call it the “bidirectional arrow block” or tab-with-shift-tab symbol; it is a visible character, not the invisible ASCII tab control (U+0009).
There is no named HTML entity for U+21B9. Use ↹ or ↹ in markup, or \21B9 in stylesheet content. Pair the glyph with the words Tab or Shift+Tab in UI copy so users are not guessing from the icon alone.
⚡ Quick Reference — Bidirectional Arrow Block
U+21B9Arrows
↹Hexadecimal reference
↹Decimal reference
—None (use numeric refs)
Name Value
──────────── ──────────
Unicode U+21B9
Hex code ↹
HTML code ↹
Named entity —
CSS code \21B9Complete HTML Example
This example shows U+21B9 using hexadecimal and decimal character references, plus a CSS content escape on a pseudo-element:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
#point:after{
content: "\21B9";
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Bidirectional Arrow Block using Hexa Decimal: ↹</p>
<p>Bidirectional Arrow Block using HTML Code: ↹</p>
<p id="point">Bidirectional Arrow Block using CSS Entity: </p>
</body>
</html>🌐 Browser Support
U+21B9 is widely supported as part of the BMP Arrows block; glyph shape varies by typeface:
👀 Live Preview
Compare U+21B9 with other common arrows (fonts may differ):
🧠 How It Works
Hexadecimal Code
↹ references code point U+21B9 using hex digits 21B9 after the #x prefix.
Decimal HTML Code
↹ is the decimal equivalent (8633) for the same character.
CSS Entity
\21B9 is the CSS escape for U+21B9, used in the content property of ::before or ::after.
Same visual result
Hex, decimal, and CSS escapes all produce ↹. There is no named HTML entity for U+21B9.
Use Cases
The U+21B9 symbol (↹) is commonly used for:
On-screen keyboards, keycap diagrams, and shortcut cheat sheets.
Hints next to fields that explain Tab moves focus between controls.
IDE and authoring-tool docs that show the Tab / Shift+Tab legend.
Lightweight inline icons for two-way navigation when bars suggest endpoints.
Editor chrome where a single glyph must read as “indent / outdent” at a glance.
Beginner HTML courses that teach character references with familiar key shapes.
Always add visible text or aria-label (“Tab”) so the arrow is not the only cue.
💡 Best Practices
Do
- Pair ↹ with the words Tab or Shift+Tab in UI strings and documentation
- Prefer numeric references; they are unambiguous across HTML parsers
- Test on Windows and macOS: system sans fonts draw U+21B9 with slightly different weights
- Use
\21B9only inside CSScontent, not inside HTML text nodes - When you truly need a tab character in source, use U+0009 in UTF-8 or an escaped literal in code samples—not U+21B9
Don’t
- Confuse the visible ↹ symbol (U+21B9) with the invisible tab control (U+0009)
- Ship icon-only controls for critical navigation without accessible names
- Assume readers know Unicode names; use plain language in product copy
- Rely on ↹ alone to teach indentation in code blocks where monospace and spaces matter more
- Forget RTL layouts: arrow-heavy rows may need mirroring or logical properties in bidi UIs
Key Takeaways
Two numeric references render the same glyph
↹ ↹CSS content escape
\21B9U+21B9 is a visible arrow, not ASCII tab U+0009
No &name; entity; stick to hex or decimal in HTML
Add text or ARIA labels whenever the glyph stands in for an action
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
↹ (hex), ↹ (decimal), or \21B9 in CSS content. There is no named entity; all valid methods render ↹.U+21B9 (hex 21B9, decimal 8633). Unicode name: LEFTWARDS ARROW TO BAR OVER RIGHTWARDS ARROW TO BAR. Arrows block.\21B9 escape belongs in stylesheets (for example on pseudo-elements). Do not paste CSS escapes into HTML text nodes.↹, ↹, or \21B9 in CSS depending on whether you are authoring markup or styles.Explore More HTML Entities!
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