Leftwards Squiggle Arrow
Block: Arrows
- Symbol
- ⇜
- Unicode
U+21DC- Unicode name
- LEFTWARDS SQUIGGLE ARROW
- Block
- Arrows
- Category
- Symbol, Other
- Type
- Unicode symbol
Leftwards Squiggle Arrow (⇜) is encoded as U+21DC and has the formal Unicode name LEFTWARDS SQUIGGLE ARROW. Unicode classifies it as Symbol, Other in the Arrows block. Its name places it in the arrow/directional family, which gives the page a narrower identity than the glyph alone. Separately encoded named neighbors include ⇝ Rightwards Squiggle Arrow (U+21DD); those records should be compared by name and code point rather than merged because their shapes or terminology are related.
How Context Narrows the Meaning of ⇜
⇜ is encoded as U+21DC and classified as Symbol, Other. Its formal name narrows it to the arrow/directional family rather than leaving the mark as an unidentified shape.
The Unicode identity and the surrounding document answer different questions: the code point tells you which character is present, while the surrounding formula, interface, document, or notation system determines the local interpretation. Keeping those layers separate prevents a visual guess from being treated as a character definition.
When another character is unclear, try what is ⇜ called? to identify it from the character itself, its Unicode value, or its shape.
Encoding ⇜ in HTML and Source Text
U+21DC = decimal 8668 = HTML ⇜ / ⇜. A Unicode escape-style form is u21DC. Its UTF-8 bytes are E2 87 9C.
Use these identifiers in markup, source code, exports, or character diagnostics when the glyph alone is not enough.
Do Not Collapse Leftwards Squiggle Arrow Into Nearby Named Variants
Unicode stores ⇜ as U+21DC, while nearby records include ⇝ Rightwards Squiggle Arrow (U+21DD). These are separate encoded identities, not alternate font drawings of one character.
The comparison is useful because a shared word in the name, a mirrored direction, or a similar outline can make two symbols appear interchangeable. When the distinction matters, compare the complete Unicode name and code point before replacing one record with another.