The Ultimate Guide to the Left Arrow Symbol (←)

The left arrow symbol (←) is a versatile typographical symbol used across user interfaces, mathematics, programming, and everyday communication. It indicates direction toward the left, implies backward navigation, shows undo operations, and serves as a visual cue in various contexts. This essential symbol appears in everything from website navigation to mathematical notation.

Key Facts About the Left Arrow Symbol

  • Unicode: U+2190 LEFTWARDS ARROW
  • HTML Entity: ← or ←
  • LaTeX: \leftarrow
  • First Used: In mathematical notation in the early 20th century

What is the Left Arrow Symbol (←)?

The left arrow symbol (←) is a graphical symbol used to point or indicate direction toward the left. It consists of a line segment with a triangular arrowhead at one end. In Unicode, there are numerous left arrow variations with different styles and meanings.

The left arrow is most commonly used for:

How to Type the Left Arrow Symbol (←) on Different Devices

Windows

  • Alt Code: Alt + 27 (numeric keypad)
  • Character Map: Search "Character Map" and find ←
  • Word: Type 2190 then press Alt + X

Mac

  • Character Viewer: Press Control + Command + Space
  • Search for "left arrow" in the viewer
  • Copy from Character Viewer

Mobile

  • iPhone/iPad: Use emoji keyboard (⬅️)
  • Android: Use symbols keyboard or emoji keyboard
  • Copy and paste from this page

Left Arrow on Specific Platforms

HTML & Web

←

Use ←, ←, or ←

LaTeX

←

Use \leftarrow for left arrow or \Leftarrow for double left arrow

Programming

←

In JavaScript: \u2190, Python: \u2190, Java: \u2190

Emoji

⬅️

Unicode: U+2B05 + U+FE0F, represents left direction, back navigation

Quick Reference Guide: Left Arrow Symbol (←) Codes

Platform/Format Code/Shortcut Description
Unicode U+2190 Standard leftwards arrow
HTML Entity ← or ← Web development
LaTeX \leftarrow or \Leftarrow Mathematical documents
Windows Alt Code Alt + 27 Numeric keypad required
CSS \2190 Style sheets
JavaScript \u2190 String literals
Left Arrow Emoji U+2B05 U+FE0F Colored arrow symbol

Left Arrow Symbol Meanings

The left arrow symbol carries different meanings depending on the context:

Contextual Meanings

  • User Interface: Back, previous, undo, return
  • Mathematics: Assignment, limit from left, implication
  • Programming: Bitwise left shift, assignment operator
  • Navigation: Move left, go back, reverse direction
  • Chemistry: Reversible reaction (with right arrow)

Common Uses of the Left Arrow Symbol

User Interfaces

←

Used as back buttons in web browsers, mobile apps, and software interfaces to navigate to previous screens or pages.

Mathematics

←

Used for assignment: x ← 5, limits from left: lim x→0⁻, and logical operations.

Programming

←

In some languages for assignment, in comments to show data flow, and in pseudocode algorithms.

Undo Operations

↶

Often used in combination with other symbols to represent undo, reverse, or rollback operations in software.

Left Arrow Variations and Styles

Unicode contains numerous left arrow variations:

Symbol Unicode Name Usage
← U+2190 Leftwards Arrow General purpose
⇐ U+21D0 Leftwards Double Arrow Logical implication
⇦ U+21E6 Leftwards White Arrow UI elements
⬅️ U+2B05 Left Arrow Emoji Emoji messaging
↼ U+21BC Leftwards Harpoon Vector notation
↞ U+219E Leftwards Two Headed Arrow Injective functions

Left Arrow PNG Resources

For graphic design and web development, left arrow PNG images are commonly used. These provide transparent backgrounds and can be easily integrated into designs.

Where to Find Left Arrow PNGs

  • Free Icon Sites: Flaticon, Iconfinder, Font Awesome
  • Stock Image Sites: Shutterstock, Getty Images (premium)
  • Design Tools: Canva, Figma, Adobe Stock
  • CSS Libraries: Font Awesome, Material Icons

When using left arrow PNGs, consider: