Unicode: Keyboard Symbols โŒ˜ โ†ต โŒซ

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .
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Here is a list of Unicode symbols to represent computer keyboard keys.

โŒ˜ โ– โ—† , ๐ŸŒ
โœฒ โŽˆ ^ โŒƒ
โŽ‡ โŒฅ

โ‡ง โ‡ช โ‡ฎ
๐Ÿ„ฐ โ‡ฌ
โ‡ญ
โ†ฉ โ†ต โŽ
โฃ
โ–ค โ˜ฐ โŽ„
โญพ โ†น โ‡„ โ†ฆ
โŽ‹
โŒซ โŸต
โŒฆ โŽ€ , โ‡ค โ‡ฅ โค’ โค“ , โ‡ž โ‡Ÿ โŽ— โŽ˜
โ† โ†’ โ†‘ โ†“, โ—€ โ–ถ โ–ฒ โ–ผ,
โŽ‰ โŽŠ โŽ™ , โ˜พ โ
๐Ÿ”… ๐Ÿ”†
๐Ÿ”‡ ๐Ÿ”ˆ ๐Ÿ”‰ ๐Ÿ”Š , ๐Ÿ•จ ๐Ÿ•ฉ ๐Ÿ•ช
โ—ผ โฏ โฎ โญ , โช โฉ

Mouse hover or click on a unicode character โŒ˜ to see its name and codepoint.

Control key

โœฒ (OPEN CENTRE ASTERISK) is printed on Microsoft Keyboards .

โŽˆ (HELM SYMBOL) is used on MacBook Pro keyboard, French Canadian Layout for the Control key, and sometimes used to indicate Control key in Linux documentation.

^ (CIRCUMFLEX ACCENT) (aka caret) is the character on normal keyboard, shifted 6. It is the classic notation to indicate ASCII control character in programing, and also used as a notation for pressing Control key for inputting control sequence. The symbol is mostly used in 1970s to 1990s, in documentation or from online posts by user.

โŒƒ (UP ARROWHEAD) , the actual character used by Apple website as of 2017-07, in menu, in documentation.

Microsoft Digital Media kbd 3000 vvjPY
Microsoft Digital Media Keyboard 3000.
MacBook Pro French Canadian vhfZN
MacBook Pro keyboard, French Canadian Layout

The caret character ^ and UP ARROWHEAD โŒƒ are not good to represent the Control key, because it confuses with the printable caret character on the keyboard, the shifted digit 6 key.

Windows Logo Key

Windows Logo Key (suggestion) โ–

This symbol is sometimes used by small keyboard makers.

Truly Ergonomic Keyboard win key-2
Truly Ergonomic Keyboard

The Windows Logo key and the Apple Command key both send the same USB scancode.

On Linux, by convention, the Windows logo key is called Super. (not to be confused with a real Super key on Lisp Machine keyboards. [see Symbolics keyboard PN 365407] )

Command key

Command key โŒ˜

Apple keyboard A1242 cmd key
Apple keyboard A1242. Year 2009

Alt key

โŽ‡. Dedicated Unicode symbol for the Alt key.

โ‡ฎ, used on Canadian Multilingual Layout

Option key

โŒฅ, used on Apple computers.

Note: Alt on PC keyboard and โŒฅ option on Apple Keyboards send the same USB scancode. [see Difference Between Apple and Microsoft keyboards]

Meta Key, Super Key

The BLACK DIAMOND โ—† is used on Sun Microsystems Type 6 Keyboard. Solaris documentation calls it the Meta key. The Meta key is a key on Lisp Machine Keyboards and heavily used by emacs. [see A Curious Look at Emacs's One Thousand Keybindings]

Sun Microsystems Type 6 Keyboard left
The Meta key with diamond โ—† symbol on Sun Microsystems Type 6 Keyboard

Hyper Key

Hyper key suggestions โœฆ โœง. Hyper is key on Lisp Machine Keyboards.

lisp machine keyboard 2 left
Symbolics's Lisp Machine keyboard PN 365407 Rev C. (Photo by Joey Devilla [https://www.globalnerdy.com/2009/02/05/hacklabtos-lisp-machine-keyboard/]. Used with permission.)

Shift key

Most keyboard uses a fat white up arrow โ‡ง, or just print shift.

Caps lock

Most popular: ๐Ÿ„ฐ ๐Ÿ…ฐ [see Logitech Non-Gaming Keyboards] [see Microsoft Keyboards] [see Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000]

Also common: โ‡ช, [see Apple Keyboard Key Symbols โŒ˜ โŒฅ]

French Canadian standard for capslock key: โ‡ฌ Used in Canadian Multilingual Layout

Number lock (Numlock)

โ‡ญ. Used in Canadian Multilingual Layout

Return/Enter key

Commonly used symbols for return key: โ†ฉ โ†ต โŽ

This is the return key above the right Shift key. [see Keyboard Enter/Return Key Symbol]

Enter โŒค This is the enter key on number pad. This symbol is used by Apple. [see Apple Keyboard Key Symbols โŒ˜ โŒฅ]

Enter โŽ†. This is unicode symbol named ENTER SYMBOL.

Note: There are 2 return/enter keys on standard PC keyboard: one on main section above right shift key, one on number pad. The keyboard hardware sends different key signals.

Microsoft digital media keyboard 3000 enter key
Microsoft Digital Media Keyboard 3000

Menu/App key

Suggestions: โ–ค โ˜ฐ

This key is invented by Microsoft. It is meant to be a application specific key. [see Keyboard Menu/App Key]

Compose key

Standard symbol for Compose key: โŽ„

the Compose Key is rare. It's on Sun Microsystems Type 6 Keyboard, but it doesn't use any symbol. [see Alt Graph Key, Compose Key, Dead Key]

Sun Microsystems Type 6 keyboard meta
Compose key on Sun Microsystems Type 6 Keyboard

Tab key

Commonly used symbols for tab key: โญพ โ†น โ‡ฅ

Related symbols: โ‡„ โ‡ค โ†ค โ†ฆ

Apple Keyboards for USA use the word โ€œtabโ€. NON-US version use โ‡ฅ. [see Apple Keyboard Key Symbols โŒ˜ โŒฅ]

Space key

โฃ

Escape key

Escape key โŽ‹

Most PC keyboards use โ€œEscโ€ as label.

Apple keyboard for USA use โ€œescโ€. Some international Apple keyboard use โŽ‹. [see MacBook Pro keyboard, French Canadian Layout] Apple documentation use โŽ‹. Matias Mini Tactile Pro Keyboard use โŽ‹

[see Escape Key]

Backspace

โŒซ โŸต

The backspace key is the key on the top right of a PC keyboard. For example, look at IBM Model M keyboard. [see IBM Model M keyboard (1985)]

Microsoft keyboard lable this key as โ€œBackspaceโ€ together with a long left arrow โŸต printed beneath it. [see Microsoft Keyboards]

Apple Keyboards for US labels it โ€œdeleteโ€. Their non-English version uses โŒซ or โŸต [see Apple Keyboard Key Symbols โŒ˜ โŒฅ] [see Apple Keyboard History โŒจ]

Don't confuse this key with the Delete โŒฆ key in the home/end key cluster.

Arrow Keys

Common:
โ†‘ โ†“ โ† โ†’ , โ—€ โ–ถ โ–ฒ โ–ผ , โ— โ–ท โ–ณ โ–ฝ , โ‡ฆ โ‡จ โ‡ง โ‡ฉ , โฌ… โžก โฎ• โฌ† โฌ‡

More unicode arrows at Unicode: Arrows โ†’ โžต โž› โžฒ โžค

Home/End Keys

Apple keyboard use: โค’ โค“. Before 2018, it use: โ†– โ†˜

Other suggestions: โ‡ค โ‡ฅ

Apple Magic Keyboard 2015 taiwan vqvZZ
Apple Magic Keyboard 2015 taiwan Apple Magic Keyboard. Year 2015
mac keyboard viewer changes 2018 05 01 fkjyd
Mac keyboard viewer changes 2018-05-01

[see Mac Keyboard Viewer]

Page Up/Down

Common: โ‡ž โ‡Ÿ โ†‘ โ†“ โ–ฒ โ–ผ โ–ณ โ–ฝ

Apple keyboard uses โ‡ž โ‡Ÿ before 2018, after uses โ†‘ โ†“ . [Apple Keyboard Key Symbols โŒ˜ โŒฅ]

Logitech Non-Gaming Keyboards usually use โ–ฒ โ–ผ

Previous/Next Page

โŽ— โŽ˜

These are for browser previous/next page. The โŽ— โŽ˜ are used by Thinkpad keyboard around 2000 to 2011.

Lenovo ThinkPad x220 K9C5W
Lenovo ThinkPad x220 [see Thinkpad Keyboard]

(forward) Delete

Delete key โŒฆ

The delete keys is in the cluster of {home, end, page up, page down, insert}

Insert

Insert symbol โŽ€

This is Unicode U+2380: INSERTION SYMBOL. This symbol is used by copy editors, to indicate insertion.

Most keyboards label it โ€œInsertโ€ or โ€œInsโ€.

IBM Model M 3193 uses this symbol, but with the hat ^ at top.

IBM Model M 3193 home end insert
IBM Model M 3193 home end insert [see IBM Model M keyboard (1985)]

Clear Key

clear key symbol suggestions: โŽš โŒง

The clear key is the key on the number pad on Apple Keyboards .

It is labeled as โ€œclearโ€.

Print Screen Key

โŽ™ PRINT SCREEN SYMBOL

I haven't seen this symbol used on keyboard.

Scroll Lock (ScrLk)

Suggestions:

System Request (SysRq)

Suggestions:

[see Print Screen, SysRq, ScrLk, Pause, Break Keys]

Pause/Break

pause key โŽ‰

break key โŽŠ

These are standard symbols for pause/break used in electronic circuits.

In the beginning, keyboard's pause/break key(s) have similar meaning to the electronic pause/break, but not today.

[see Print Screen, SysRq, ScrLk, Pause, Break Keys]

I haven't see keyboard using these symbols.

Help Key

Help key symbol suggestions: โฐ โ„น ๐Ÿ›ˆ

Help key is in Apple Keyboard Problems and Sun Microsystems Type 6 Keyboard

This key is typically labeled just โ€œhelpโ€.

Sleep Key

โ˜พ

[see Unicode: Astrology Symbols ๐ŸŒ›]

Eject

Eject โ

mail key

mail โœ‰

[see Office Emoji ๐Ÿ“Œ]

browser home page key

home ๐Ÿ  ๐Ÿก โŒ‚

Cut

Cut โœ‚ โœ„

Undo, Redo

Undo, redo โŽŒ โ†ถ โ†ท โคบ โคป

[see Unicode: Arrows โ†’ โžต โž› โžฒ โžค]

Reload/Refresh Key

Reload/Refresh โŸฒ โŸณ โ†บ โ†ป

The symbol โŸณ is used by Chromebook for browser refresh.

Chromebook keyboard 2016 cjG2D
Chromebook Keyboard Featuring search key ๐Ÿ” and reload key โŸณ

Microsoft Edge browser has โ†ป symbol for the reload button.

Search Key, Magnify Key

๐Ÿ” ๐Ÿ”Ž. The manifying glass ๐Ÿ” is used on Chromebook Keyboard for web search function, as replacement for the CapsLock key.

Screen Brightness Key

brightness. ๐Ÿ”… ๐Ÿ”†

Multimedia Keys

mute ๐Ÿ”‡ no sound ๐Ÿ”ˆ sound down ๐Ÿ”‰ sound up ๐Ÿ”Š

๐Ÿ•จ ๐Ÿ•ฉ ๐Ÿ•ช

stop โ—ผ play/pause โฏ, prev song โฎ, next song โญ, fast backward โช, fast forward โฉ, fast upward โซ, fast downward โฌ

[see Unicode: User Interface Icons ๐Ÿ—‘]

Apple Fn key

๐ŸŒ

Apple fn key 2021-12-26
Apple fn key 2021-12-26 [see M1 MacBook Air]

Number Pad Keys

[see Unicode: Circled Numbers โ‘  โ‘ก โ‘ข]

Sample Use of Keyboard Symbols

Apple keyboard shortcut symbols
Key symbols used in Mac OS X menu, as of 2009.
Apple Mac OS X safari menu 2009
keyboard shortcut Notation used in Mac OS X, from Safari, .

Apple's Logographs to Represent Keys

Apple keyboard shortcut symbols
Key symbols used in Mac OS X menu, as of 2009.

Here is the Apple's key symbols in Unicode.

โŒ˜Command keyU+2318: PLACE OF INTEREST SIGN
โŒฅOption/AltU+2325: OPTION KEY
^Control keyU+5E: CIRCUMFLEX ACCENT
โ‡งShift keyU+21E7: UPWARDS WHITE ARROW
โŒคEnterU+2324: UP ARROWHEAD BETWEEN TWO HORIZONTAL BARS
โ†ฉReturnU+21A9: LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH HOOK
โ†‘Up ArrowU+2191: UPWARDS ARROW
โ†“Down ArrowU+2193: DOWNWARDS ARROW
โ†’Right ArrowU+2192: RIGHTWARDS ARROW
โ†Left ArrowU+2190: LEFTWARDS ARROW
โ‡žPage UpU+21DE: UPWARDS ARROW WITH DOUBLE STROKE
โ‡ŸPage DownU+21DF: DOWNWARDS ARROW WITH DOUBLE STROKE
โ†–HomeU+2196: NORTH WEST ARROW
โ†˜EndU+2198: SOUTH EAST ARROW
โŒซDeleteU+232B: ERASE TO THE LEFT
โŒฆForward DeleteU+2326: ERASE TO THE RIGHT
โŽ‹EscapeU+238B: BROKEN CIRCLE WITH NORTHWEST ARROW

Mac keyboard key unicode symbol change

mac keyboard viewer changes 2018-05-01 fkjyd
Mac keyboard viewer changes 2018-05-01

[see Mac Keyboard Viewer]

Mac finally changed its home/end key symbols from the incomprehensible โ†– โ†˜ to the make sense โค’ โค“.

Though, arrows was โ‡  โ‡ข โ‡ก โ‡ฃ is now โ–ฒ โ–ผ โ—€ โ–ถ.

I guess that match the symbol printed on keycaps.

While page up/down โ‡ž โ‡Ÿ became generic โ†‘ โ†“. Also worse.

Note that logitech non-gaming keyboards also use โ–ฒ โ–ผ โ—€ โ–ถ. for arrow key's key label.

[see Logitech Non-Gaming Keyboards]

Note that the home/end keys on Mac moves to top/bottom of file. While on Microsoft Windows and linux, it moves to beginning/end of line.

See also: Keyboard Home/End Keys Arrangement

for laptop key labels, see Evolution of Laptop Keyboard

Unicode Dingbats