U+2B38 · Math symbol
LaTeX
\leftdotarrow
Leftwards Arrow With Dotted Stem Symbol ⬸
⬸ is leftwards arrow with dotted stem, U+2B38 — \leftdotarrow in LaTeX. It was added in Unicode 5.1, and Unicode files it under Math symbol.
Codes & technical data
| Unicode | U+2B38 | |
|---|---|---|
| HTML hex | ⬸ | |
| HTML decimal | ⬸ | |
| CSS | \2B38 | |
| JavaScript | \u{2B38} | |
| Python | \U00002B38 | |
| Java / C# | \u2B38 | |
| Rust | \u{2b38} | |
| Swift | \u{2B38} | |
| PHP | \u{2B38} | |
| URL encoded | %E2%AC%B8 | |
| UTF-8 bytes | E2 AC B8 | |
| UTF-16 bytes | 2B38 | |
| Base64 | 4qy4 | |
| Decimal | 11064 | |
| LaTeX | \leftdotarrow | |
| Category | Math symbol (Sm) | |
| Introduced | Unicode 5.1 | |
Will ⬸ survive being pasted?
- Normalisation. Yes. ⬸ is unchanged by NFKC, so it survives normalising systems intact.
- Legacy encodings. ⬸ is Unicode-only — it has no Latin-1 equivalent, so a system stuck on an 8-bit encoding cannot represent it.
- Size. 3 bytes in UTF-8. Character-limited fields — SMS, bios, some form validators — usually count bytes, not characters.
Unicode cross-references
The standard points readers of ⬸ at these characters — usually because they look alike, or because one is the correct choice where the other is often used by mistake.
Other stem characters
Unicode names 4 characters ending in “stem”. They differ by direction, weight or decoration rather than by meaning.
Nearby in Miscellaneous Symbols and Arrows
A mixed block of arrows, stars, and geometric shapes in weights and colours the earlier blocks did not cover, plus a set of astronomical symbols.
How to type ⬸
| Windows | Type 2B38 then press Alt+X |
|---|---|
| macOS | Press Ctrl+Cmd+Space, then search for “leftwards arrow with dotted stem” |
| Linux | Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 2b38, press Enter |
| HTML | ⬸ |
About Unicode’s Math symbol category
Unicode classifies this as a mathematical symbol, which means software that lays out formulas treats it as an operator or relation and gives it spacing accordingly, rather than setting it tight against its neighbours like a letter.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I type the ⬸ leftwards arrow with dotted stem symbol?
- On Windows, type 2B38 and press Alt+X. On Linux press Ctrl+Shift+U then 2b38. On any system the quickest route is the copy button on this page.
- What is the code for ⬸?
- Leftwards Arrow With Dotted Stem is U+2B38 and in LaTeX as \leftdotarrow. In UTF-8 it takes 3 bytes. The table above lists every escape format.
- What kind of character is ⬸?
- Leftwards Arrow With Dotted Stem is filed under Math symbol in the Miscellaneous Symbols and Arrows block, and was introduced in Unicode 5.1. Unicode classifies this as a mathematical symbol, which means software that lays out formulas treats it as an operator or relation and gives it spacing accordingly, rather than setting it tight against its neighbours like a letter.