HTML Entity for Down Harpoon With Barb Left (⇃)

Beginner
⏱️ 5 min read
📚 Updated: Jun 2026
🎯 1 Code Example
Unicode U+21C3
HTML entity for Down Harpoon With Barb Left (U+21C3) — hex, decimal, and dharl; tutorial

What You'll Learn

How to display the Down Harpoon With Barb Left (⇃) in HTML using hexadecimal, decimal, the named entity ⇃, and CSS escape methods. This character is U+21C3 (DOWNWARDS HARPOON WITH BARB LEFT) in the Arrows block (U+2190–U+21FF)—a downward harpoon with the barb (hook) on the left, used in mathematical notation, scientific content, and technical documents.

Render it with ⇃, ⇃, ⇃, or CSS escape \21C3. For barb right use ⇂ (⇂, U+21C2). For paired down/up harpoons use ⥯ (⥯, U+296F).

⚡ Quick Reference — Down Harpoon With Barb Left

Unicode U+21C3

Arrows block

Hex Code ⇃

Hexadecimal reference

HTML Code ⇃

Decimal reference

Named Entity ⇃

HTML5 named entity for U+21C3

Reference Table
Name           Value
────────────   ──────────
Unicode        U+21C3
Hex code       ⇃
HTML code      ⇃
Named entity   ⇃
CSS code       \21C3
Related        U+21C2 = Barb right (⇂); U+296F = Down-up pair (⥯)
1

Complete HTML Example

This example demonstrates the Down Harpoon With Barb Left (⇃) using hexadecimal code, decimal HTML code, the named entity ⇃, and a CSS content escape:

html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
 <style>
  #point:after{
   content: "\21C3";
  }
 </style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Down Harpoon With Barb Left using Hexadecimal: &#x21C3;</p>
<p>Down Harpoon With Barb Left using HTML Code: &#8643;</p>
<p>Down Harpoon With Barb Left using HTML Entity: &dharl;</p>
<p id="point">Down Harpoon With Barb Left using CSS Entity: </p>
</body>
</html>
Try it Yourself

🌐 Browser Support

U+21C3 is widely supported in modern browsers when rendered with a font that includes Arrows:

Chrome 1+
Firefox 1+
Safari 1+
Edge 12+
Opera 4+
Android 4.4+
iOS Safari 1+

👀 Live Preview

See the Down Harpoon With Barb Left (⇃) in math and logic contexts:

Large glyph ⇃
Maps to f(x) ⇃ limit
vs barb right ⇃ barb left   ⇂ barb right
Named entity &dharl; → ⇃
All HTML refs &#x21C3; &#8643; &dharl;

🧠 How It Works

1

Hexadecimal Code

&#x21C3; uses the Unicode hexadecimal value 21C3 to display the Down Harpoon With Barb Left. The x prefix indicates hexadecimal format.

HTML markup
2

Decimal HTML Code

&#8643; uses the decimal Unicode value 8643 to display the same character.

HTML markup
3

Named HTML Entity

&dharl; is the HTML5 named entity for U+21C3 (down harpoon, barb left). It is easy to read in source and resolves to ⇃.

HTML markup
4

CSS Entity

\21C3 is used in CSS stylesheets, particularly in the content property of pseudo-elements like ::before and ::after.

CSS stylesheet
=

Same visual result

All four methods produce: ⇃. Unicode U+21C3. Barb right: &dharr; (⇂). Serve HTML as UTF-8.

✅

Use Cases

The Down Harpoon With Barb Left (⇃) is commonly used in:

∑ Math notation

Limits, convergence, or down-to relations with a harpoon (barb left).

⊢ Logic and proofs

Formal logic, proof notation, or maps-to / reduces-to relations.

📄 Scientific content

Technical flows and specs that use harpoon symbols.

📊 Flowcharts

Downward flow with a harpoon (barb left) in process and logic diagrams.

📖 Documentation

Explain reduction, assignment, or down-to in developer and academic docs.

💻 Symbol libraries

Symbol pickers or design systems that include harpoon characters.

💡 Best Practices

Do

  • Use &dharl; for readable markup, or &#x21C3; / &#8643;
  • Add aria-label when the symbol means maps to or reduces to
  • Pair ⇃ with a legend in technical documents
  • Use \21C3 in CSS ::before / ::after for harpoon icons
  • Serve pages with UTF-8 (<meta charset="utf-8">)

Don’t

  • Confuse &dharl; (⇃, barb left) with &dharr; (⇂, barb right)
  • Confuse ⇃ with ↓ (&darr;, plain down arrow)
  • Put CSS escape \21C3 in HTML text nodes
  • Rely on the symbol alone in accessibility-critical UIs
  • Assume decorative fonts include all Arrows glyphs

Key Takeaways

1

Named entity available: &dharl;

&#x21C3; &#8643;
2

For CSS stylesheets, use the escape in the content property

\21C3
3

Unicode U+21C3 — DOWNWARDS HARPOON WITH BARB LEFT

4

Mirror of barb right: ⇂ via &dharr; (U+21C2)

5

Four methods, one glyph — widely supported in modern browsers

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Use &#x21C3; (hex), &#8643; (decimal), &dharl; (named entity), or \21C3 in CSS content. All produce ⇃.
U+21C3 (DOWNWARDS HARPOON WITH BARB LEFT). Arrows block (U+2190–U+21FF). Hex 21C3, decimal 8643. A downward harpoon with the barb on the left.
In mathematical notation, scientific and technical content, logic, and documentation where a harpoon with barb left (limits, mappings, or directional relations) is needed.
&dharl; is easier to read in source than &#8643; or &#x21C3;, but all produce ⇃. The CSS escape \21C3 is used in stylesheets in the content property of pseudo-elements.
No. &dharl; is the Down Harpoon With Barb Left (⇃, U+21C3)—barb on the left. The Down Harpoon With Barb Right (⇂, U+21C2, &dharr;) has the barb on the right. They are mirror images and different Unicode glyphs.

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About the author

Mari Selvan M P
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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