Text Symbols

Q: What are box-drawing characters used for?

Box-drawing characters are used to create tables, borders, and structured layouts in plain text environments. They are commonly used in terminal applications, code comments, README files, and ASCII art. They connect seamlessly when placed next to each other.

Copy and paste 850+ Unicode text symbols instantly — arrows, stars, hearts, math symbols, and more.

Search Symbols

Arrows (200+)

Stars (50+)

Hearts (30+)

Music (40+)

Weather (30+)

Zodiac (12)

Currency (20+)

Math (100+)

Shapes (50+)

Borders (100+)

Hands (20+)

Miscellaneous (200+)

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How to Use Text Symbols

Copy any Unicode symbol to your clipboard with a single click. All symbols work on every platform and application that supports Unicode text, including social media, email, documents, and messaging apps.

Choose a category using the tabs above — arrows, stars, hearts, music, weather, zodiac, currency, math, shapes, borders, hands, or miscellaneous.
Search by name using the search bar to quickly find a specific symbol (e.g., type "arrow" or "heart").
Click any symbol to copy it to your clipboard instantly.
Paste anywhere — social media posts, documents, emails, code editors, or messaging apps.
Save favorites by starring symbols you use frequently for quick access.

About Unicode Text Symbols

Unicode text symbols are standardized characters defined by the Unicode Consortium that render consistently across all modern devices and platforms. Unlike emoji, which can appear differently on iOS, Android, and Windows, most text symbols render identically because they use simple glyph shapes rather than platform-specific artwork.

Text symbols are encoded as single characters in the Unicode standard, which means they work in any text field that supports UTF-8 encoding. You can paste them into Instagram bios, Twitter posts, Discord messages, email subject lines, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and any other application without worrying about compatibility. They also take up less space than emoji in many contexts and are searchable by screen readers for accessibility.

Symbol Categories Explained

Category	Count	Examples	Common Uses
Arrows	200+	← → ↑ ↓ ➤ ⇒	Navigation, directions, flowcharts
Stars	50+	★ ☆ ✨ ✴ ✶	Ratings, decorations, emphasis
Hearts	30+	♥ ♡ ❤ ❣	Love, social media, reactions
Music	40+	♪ ♫ ♬ 𝄞	Music notation, captions
Math	100+	± × ÷ ∞ √ ∑	Equations, formulas, notation
Currency	20+	$ £ € ¥ ₹ ₿	Pricing, finance, international
Shapes	50+	○ ● ■ ▲ ◆	Bullet points, diagrams, UI design
Borders	100+	─ │ ┌ ┐ ═	ASCII art, tables, text formatting

Common Use Cases for Text Symbols

Social media bios: Add arrows, stars, and decorative symbols to Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter bios to stand out visually.
Document formatting: Use bullet points (•), check marks (✓), and arrows (→) in professional documents without relying on word processor formatting.
Mathematical notation: Write equations with proper operators (±, ×, ÷, √, ∞) and Greek letters (α, β, π, ω) in plain text.
Programming and terminal output: Use box-drawing characters to create tables and borders in terminal applications and code comments.
International currency: Display prices with proper currency symbols (£, €, ¥, ₹, ₿) for global audiences.
Music and entertainment: Add musical notes (♪ ♫) to lyrics, playlist descriptions, and event announcements.
Ratings and reviews: Create star ratings (★★★☆☆) using text that works in any format.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between text symbols and emoji?

Text symbols are standardized Unicode characters that render as simple glyphs in any font. They appear the same across all devices and platforms. Emoji are pictographic characters that render as colorful images and can look different on iOS, Android, Windows, and other platforms. Text symbols are better for professional contexts, code, and situations requiring consistent display.

Will text symbols work on all social media platforms?

Yes. Unicode text symbols work on all major platforms including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Discord, Reddit, YouTube, and LinkedIn. They are real characters in the Unicode standard, so any application that supports text input will display them correctly.

How do I search for a specific symbol?

Use the search bar at the top of the tool. Type a descriptive word like "arrow," "heart," "star," or "check" to filter the symbols. You can also browse by category using the tabs to narrow down your search to a specific type of symbol.

Can I use text symbols in email subject lines?

Yes. Most modern email clients support Unicode in subject lines. Symbols like arrows (→), stars (★), and check marks (✓) can increase email open rates by making subject lines more visually distinctive. However, avoid overusing them as some spam filters may flag excessive special characters.

Are text symbols accessible to screen readers?

Many Unicode text symbols have descriptive names that screen readers can announce. For example, a screen reader will read "★" as "black star" and "→" as "rightwards arrow." However, decorative use of many symbols in a row may create a poor experience for screen reader users, so use them thoughtfully.

What are box-drawing characters used for?

Box-drawing characters (─ │ ┌ ┐ └ ┘) are used to create tables, borders, and structured layouts in plain text environments. They are commonly used in terminal applications, code comments, README files, and ASCII art. They connect seamlessly when placed next to each other.