HTML Entity for Left Right Open Headed Arrow (⇿)

Beginner
⏱️ 5 min read
📚 Updated: Jun 2026
🎯 1 Code Example
Unicode U+21FF
HTML entity for Left Right Open Headed Arrow (U+21FF) — named ⇿, hex, decimal, and CSS tutorial

What You'll Learn

How to display the Left Right Open Headed Arrow (⇿) in HTML using the named entity, hexadecimal, decimal, and CSS escape methods. This symbol is U+21FF (LEFT RIGHT OPEN-HEADED ARROW) in the Arrows block (U+2190–U+21FF)—a bidirectional arrow with open (hollow) arrowheads at both ends, often used in navigation, diagrams, and technical notation.

Render it with ⇿ (named), ⇿, ⇿, or CSS \21FF. Do not confuse ⇿ with U+2194 (↔, solid left right arrow / ↔) or U+21D4 (⇔, double arrow / ⇔).

⚡ Quick Reference — Left Right Open Headed Arrow

Unicode U+21FF

Arrows block

Hex Code ⇿

Hexadecimal reference

HTML Code ⇿

Decimal reference

Named Entity ⇿

Most readable option

Reference Table
Name           Value
────────────   ──────────
Unicode        U+21FF
Hex code       ⇿
HTML code      ⇿
Named entity   ⇿
CSS code       \21FF
Meaning        Left right open-headed arrow
Related        U+2194 = left right arrow (↔)
               U+21D4 = left right double arrow (⇔)
1

Complete HTML Example

A simple example showing the Left Right Open Headed Arrow (⇿) using the named entity, hexadecimal code, decimal HTML code, and a CSS content escape:

html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
 <style>
  #point:after{
   content: "\21FF";
  }
 </style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Arrow (hex): &#x21ff;</p>
<p>Arrow (decimal): &#8703;</p>
<p>Arrow (named): &hoarr;</p>
<p id="point">Arrow (CSS): </p>
</body>
</html>
Try it Yourself

🌐 Browser Support

The Left Right Open Headed Arrow (⇿) is universally supported in all modern browsers when the font includes Arrows block glyphs:

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

👀 Live Preview

See the Left Right Open Headed Arrow (⇿) rendered live in different contexts:

Inline text Use ⇿ for two-way navigation with open arrowheads.
Large glyph ⇿
Navigation UI Expand ⇿ Collapse
Diagram label Node A ⇿ Node B
Arrow comparison ↔ ⇔ ⇿
Numeric refs &hoarr; &#x21FF; &#8703; \21FF

🧠 How It Works

1

Hexadecimal Code

&#x21FF; uses the Unicode hexadecimal value 21FF for the left right open-headed arrow. The x prefix indicates hexadecimal format.

HTML markup
2

Decimal HTML Code

&#8703; uses the decimal Unicode value 8703 to display the same character.

HTML markup
3

Named Entity

&hoarr; is the semantic named entity — the easiest to read in source HTML and the most self-descriptive option.

HTML markup
4

CSS Entity

\21FF is used in CSS stylesheets in the content property of pseudo-elements like ::after.

CSS stylesheet
=

Same visual result

All four methods produce ⇿. Unicode U+21FF is the last code point in the Arrows block. Previous: Left Right Double Arrow Vertical Stroke.

✅

Use Cases

The Left Right Open Headed Arrow (⇿) is commonly used in:

💻 Navigation & UI

Indicate two-way navigation, expand/collapse, or bidirectional controls with open-headed style.

📊 Diagrams & Flowcharts

Show bidirectional flow or relation between nodes with a distinct open-headed arrow.

📄 Technical Documentation

Indicate two-way sync, reversible mapping, or bidirectional relation in specs.

📐 Mathematical Notation

Represent equivalence or reversible relation with an open-headed arrow variant.

📚 Academic & Research

Use in papers and textbooks for bidirectional notation with open heads.

🎨 Icons & Design

Display in icon sets or design systems for “both directions” or “two-way” actions.

💡 Best Practices

Do

  • Use &hoarr; for readable source markup
  • Add aria-label or surrounding text for accessibility
  • Verify your font supports the Arrows block (U+21FF)
  • Keep one entity style per project for consistency
  • Provide context when the symbol denotes bidirectional flow or relation

Don’t

  • Confuse ⇿ (open-headed) with ↔ (solid left right arrow)
  • Use CSS \21FF inside HTML text nodes
  • Assume all fonts render open arrowheads identically
  • Mix entity styles randomly in one file
  • Use the symbol without explaining its bidirectional meaning on first use

Key Takeaways

1

Three HTML references plus CSS all render ⇿

&#x21FF; &#8703; &hoarr;
2

For CSS, use \21FF in the content property

3

Unicode U+21FF — LEFT RIGHT OPEN-HEADED ARROW

4

Prefer &hoarr; for readability—it’s the named HTML entity

5

Previous: Left Right Double Arrow Vertical Stroke   Next: Left Right Wave Arrow

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Use &#x21FF; (hex), &#8703; (decimal), &hoarr; (named), or \21FF in CSS content. All four methods render ⇿ correctly.
U+21FF (LEFT RIGHT OPEN-HEADED ARROW). Arrows block (U+2190–U+21FF). Hex 21FF, decimal 8703. Shows a bidirectional arrow with open (hollow) arrowheads at both ends.
In navigation UI, diagrams, technical documentation, and notation to indicate bidirectional flow or relation with a distinct open-headed arrow style (as opposed to solid arrowheads).
HTML references (&#8703;, &#x21FF;, or &hoarr;) go in markup. The CSS escape \21FF is used in stylesheets, typically on ::before or ::after. Both produce ⇿.
Yes. &hoarr; is the named HTML entity for U+21FF. You can also use &#8703; (decimal) or &#x21FF; (hex) and \21FF in CSS.

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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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Left Right Double Arrow Vertical Stroke Left Right Wave Arrow