Left-Pointing Double Angle Quotation Mark
Block: Latin-1 Supplement
- Symbol
- «
- Unicode
U+00AB- Unicode name
- LEFT-POINTING DOUBLE ANGLE QUOTATION MARK
- Block
- Latin-1 Supplement
- Script
- Common
- Category
- Punctuation, Initial Quote
- Type
- Punctuation character
Left-Pointing Double Angle Quotation Mark («) is encoded as U+00AB and has the formal Unicode name LEFT-POINTING DOUBLE ANGLE QUOTATION MARK. Unicode classifies it as Punctuation, Initial Quote in the Latin-1 Supplement block. Its name places it in the quotation/punctuation family, which gives the page a narrower identity than the glyph alone. Separately encoded named neighbors include » Right-Pointing Double Angle Quotation Mark (U+00BB); those records should be compared by name and code point rather than merged because their shapes or terminology are related.
Why « Is a Distinct Typographic Character
« is Left-Pointing Double Angle Quotation Mark (U+00AB), classified by Unicode as Punctuation, Initial Quote. 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.
Looking for a different mark? Try what is the « symbol called? and identify it from the character, Unicode value, or appearance.
How « Is Encoded
U+00AB = decimal 171 = HTML « / «. A Unicode escape-style form is u00AB. Its UTF-8 bytes are C2 AB.
Use these identifiers in markup, source code, exports, or character diagnostics when the glyph alone is not enough.
Why Context Matters for Left-Pointing Double Angle Quotation Mark
Left-Pointing Double Angle Quotation Mark 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.
« and Its Separately Encoded Neighbors
Unicode stores « as U+00AB, while nearby records include » Right-Pointing Double Angle Quotation Mark (U+00BB). 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.