Fullwidth Left Square Bracket
Block: Halfwidth and Fullwidth Forms
- Symbol
- ［
- Unicode
U+FF3B- Unicode name
- FULLWIDTH LEFT SQUARE BRACKET
- Block
- Halfwidth and Fullwidth Forms
- Category
- Punctuation, Open
- Type
- Punctuation character
Fullwidth Left Square Bracket (［) is encoded as U+FF3B and has the formal Unicode name FULLWIDTH LEFT SQUARE BRACKET. Unicode classifies it as Punctuation, Open in the Halfwidth and Fullwidth Forms block. Its name places it in the bracket/delimiter family, which gives the page a narrower identity than the glyph alone. Separately encoded named neighbors include ］ Fullwidth Right Square Bracket (U+FF3D); those records should be compared by name and code point rather than merged because their shapes or terminology are related.
The Encoded Identity Behind Fullwidth Left Square Bracket
［ is Fullwidth Left Square Bracket (U+FF3B), classified by Unicode as Punctuation, Open. In digital typography, that encoded identity is separate from the font drawing: a typeface can change width, stroke, or placement without turning the character into another code point.
This matters when punctuation, currency, or measurement marks have close visual neighbors. Preserve the intended character first; language- or style-guide spacing rules can then be applied without silently substituting a different mark.
If your character differs from this one, try what symbol is ［? to find the exact mark from pasted text, Unicode, or visual clues.
Do Not Collapse Fullwidth Left Square Bracket Into Nearby Named Variants
Unicode stores ［ as U+FF3B, while nearby records include ］ Fullwidth Right Square Bracket (U+FF3D). 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.
Code-Point and UTF-8 Forms for ［
U+FF3B = decimal 65339 = HTML ［ / ［. A Unicode escape-style form is uFF3B. Its UTF-8 bytes are EF BC BB.
Use these identifiers in markup, source code, exports, or character diagnostics when the glyph alone is not enough.
The Role of ［ as a typography / punctuation
Fullwidth Left Square Bracket belongs to the typography / punctuation family. Its Unicode identity tells you which character is present, while the surrounding document determines the specific interpretation.
This separation is useful when the same glyph appears in different applications. First identify the character by code point; then use the nearby words, notation, typography, or interface to decide what the author intended. That avoids assigning meaning solely from shape.