HTML Entity for Left Arrow Double Vertical Stroke (⇺)
Beginner
6 min read
Updated: Sep 2026
1 example
Unicode U+21FA
Definition
What Is the Left Arrow Double Vertical Stroke Entity?
Left Arrow Double Vertical Stroke (⇺) is the Arrows character at Unicode U+21FA (LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH DOUBLE VERTICAL STROKE). It is often used for rewind-style controls and skip-back UI.
Remember
Character ⇺
Unicode U+21FA
Hex entity ⇺
Decimal ⇺
CSS escape \21FA
Named entity (none)
Not the same ← (plain ←)
All of these produce the same glyph: ⇺ (when the font supports U+21FA). Prefer numeric entities in HTML; use CSS \21FA only in content.
Using Hex Code: ⇺
Using HTML Code: ⇺
Using CSS Entity: ⇺
Typed directly: ⇺
⇺ Rewind
How It Works
1. Hex:U+21FA → ⇺ in HTML. The browser turns it into ⇺.
2. Decimal: same code point as 8698 → ⇺. Same result as hex.
3. CSS: use \21FA in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that ⇺ after the paragraph text.
4. Typed: in UTF-8 you can type ⇺ directly — same visual result when the font supports it.
Pitfalls & Tips
Common mistakes when working with Left Arrow Double Vertical Stroke.
Named?
No named entity
HTML5 does not define a named entity for U+21FA. Use numeric forms.
Look-alikes
Not plain ←
← (U+2190) has no double vertical stroke. Use U+21FA when you need the rewind-style form.
Direction
Not U+21FB
U+21FB is the rightwards arrow with double vertical stroke — a different character.
A11y
Say “Rewind”
Add “Rewind” nearby or use aria-label so the control is clear to assistive tech.
CSS vs HTML
Do not mix escapes
\21FA belongs in CSS. ⇺ / ⇺ belong in HTML.
Semicolon
End references
Always finish with ; — write ⇺, not ⇺.
Compatibility
Browser Support
Left Arrow Double Vertical Stroke (U+21FA) and its numeric entity forms (⇺, ⇺, CSS \\21FA) are supported in all mainstream browsers when the font includes the Arrows block.
✓ Universal support
Left Arrow Double Vertical Stroke (⇺)
Encode with hex, decimal, or CSS escape — same character when the font supports U+21FA.
100%Browser coverage
Google ChromeSupported
Yes
Microsoft EdgeSupported
Yes
Mozilla FirefoxSupported
Yes
Apple SafariSupported
Yes
OperaSupported
Yes
Internet ExplorerAll versions
Yes
U+21FA / entitiesFull support
Bottom line: Prefer ⇺ or ⇺ in HTML. Use \\21FA only inside CSS content. Pair with visible text for accessibility.
Remember
Key Takeaways
Unicode: this arrow is U+21FA (decimal 8698).
HTML: use ⇺ or ⇺ — no named entity.
CSS: use \21FA inside content for generated text.
A11y: pair ⇺ with words like “Rewind”.
One line:U+21FA → ⇺ / ⇺ / CSS \21FA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use ⇺ (hex), ⇺ (decimal), or the CSS escape \21FA in the content property. All render ⇺ when the font supports the Arrows block. There is no named HTML entity.
U+21FA (LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH DOUBLE VERTICAL STROKE). Hex 21FA, decimal 8698. It belongs to the Arrows block.
No. HTML5 does not define a named entity for U+21FA. Use numeric references like ⇺ or ⇺ when you need an entity form.
Use it for rewind-style navigation, undo/back-skip controls, and technical diagrams that need a leftwards arrow with a double vertical stroke. Prefer numeric entities when encoding must be explicit.
HTML entities (⇺ or ⇺) go in markup. The CSS escape \21FA is used in stylesheets (usually in the content property of ::before/::after). Both render ⇺.
← (U+2190, ←) is a plain leftwards arrow. U+21FB (⇻) is the rightwards arrow with double vertical stroke. U+21FA is specifically leftwards with the double stroke.
🤔
Did you know?
Left Arrow Double Vertical Stroke is Unicode U+21FA (decimal 8698) — LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH DOUBLE VERTICAL STROKE. HTML5 has no named entity — use ⇺ or ⇺. Often used for rewind-style UI. Do not confuse it with plain ← (U+2190) or the rightwards form (U+21FB).
