Unicode: Keyboard Symbols ⌘ ↵ ⌫

By Xah Lee. Date: 2010-09-03. Last updated: 2026-11-01.

Keyboard Symbols

Here is a list of Unicode symbols to represent computer keyboard keys.

⎋
 ` 1 2 3 4 5   6 7 8 9 0  - = ⌫    ⎀ ⤒ ⇞
 ⇥ Q W E R T   Y U I O P  [ ] \    ⌦ ⤓ ⇟
 🄰  A S D F G   H J K L ;  ' ↵
 ⇧   Z X C V B   N M , . /  ⇧       ↑
 ⎈ ❖ ⎇    ␣    ⎇ ❖ ▤ ⎈        ← ↓ →

🌐 ⌃ ⌥ ⌘ ⊞ ◆ ✦

Unicode: User Interface Icons 🛜 ⏩ 🗑

Control key

✲ (U+2732: OPEN CENTRE ASTERISK) → is printed on Microsoft Keyboards.
⎈ (U+2388: 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.
^ (U+5E: 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.
⌃ (U+2303: 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 (2008).

MacBook Pro French Canadian vhfZN — MacBook Pro keyboard, French Canadian Layout

The character ^ (U+5E: CIRCUMFLEX ACCENT) and ⌃ (U+2303: UP ARROWHEAD) 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

suggestions: ⊞ (U+229E: SQUARED PLUS) ❖ (U+2756: BLACK DIAMOND MINUS WHITE X)

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

⌘ (U+2318: PLACE OF INTEREST SIGN)

Apple keyboard A1242 cmd key — Apple keyboard A1242. Year 2009

Alt key

⎇ (U+2387: ALTERNATIVE KEY SYMBOL)
⇮ (U+21EE: UPWARDS WHITE DOUBLE ARROW) → used on MacBook Pro keyboard, Canadian Multilingual Layout

Option key

⌥ (U+2325: OPTION KEY) → used on Apple computers.

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

Meta Key, Super Key

◆ (U+25C6: BLACK DIAMOND) → 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. Emacs Keys: Meta Key

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

Hyper Key

suggestions: ✦ (U+2726: BLACK FOUR POINTED STAR) ✧ (U+2727: WHITE FOUR POINTED STAR)

symbol ✦ first used on raycast keyboard (year 2025), inspired by this page! story at https://x.com/MathieuDutour/status/2114674612344668656

Raycast Keyboard 2026 jjrMQ https://www.raycast.com/keyboard

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

⇧ (U+21E7: UPWARDS WHITE ARROW) → fat white up arrow. Used by most keyboards.

most keyboards just labels it shift.

Caps lock

🄰 (U+1F130: SQUARED LATIN CAPITAL LETTER A)
🅰 (U+1F170: NEGATIVE SQUARED LATIN CAPITAL LETTER A)
⇪ is used by Apple keyboards, international versions.
⇬ (U+21EC: UPWARDS WHITE ARROW ON PEDESTAL WITH HORIZONTAL BAR)

🄰 🅰 are used in

⇪ is used in:

⇬ is used in Canadian Multilingual Layout

Number lock (Numlock)

⇭ (U+21ED: UPWARDS WHITE ARROW ON PEDESTAL WITH VERTICAL BAR) → Used in Canadian Multilingual Layout

Return/Enter key

Commonly used symbols for return key:

↩ (U+21A9: LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH HOOK)
↵ (U+21B5: DOWNWARDS ARROW WITH CORNER LEFTWARDS)
⏎ (U+23CE: RETURN SYMBOL)

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

Apple uses arrow with a round hook ↩ on their international version keyboards. For US version, they use the word “return”.
Microsoft uses a variant of ↵, with long horizontal line ⮠.
Some other keyboards use an outline 90° sharp turn RETURN SYMBOL ⏎.

⌤ (U+2324: UP ARROWHEAD BETWEEN TWO HORIZONTAL BARS) → This is the enter key on number pad. This symbol is used by Apple. [see Apple Keyboard Key Symbols ⌘ ⌥]

⎆ (U+2386: ENTER SYMBOL) → 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.

On PC/Windows keyboards, they are both labeled “enter”.
On Apple keyboards, the main one is labeled “return”, and the one on number pad is “enter”.

Microsoft digital media keyboard 3000 enter key — Microsoft Digital Media Keyboard 3000 (2008)

Menu key

Suggestions: ▤ (U+25A4: SQUARE WITH HORIZONTAL FILL) ☰ (U+2630: TRIGRAM FOR HEAVEN)

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

Compose key

⎄ (U+2384: COMPOSITION SYMBOL) → Standard symbol for Compose key.

a dedicated physical 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: ⭾ ↹ ⇥

Related symbols: ⇄ ⇤ ↤ ↦

Apple Keyboards for USA use the word “tab”. NON-US version use ⇥. [see Apple Keyboard Key Symbols ⌘ ⌥]

Space key

␣ (U+2423: OPEN BOX)

Escape key

⎋ (U+238B: BROKEN CIRCLE WITH NORTHWEST ARROW)

Most PC keyboards use “Esc” as label.

Apple keyboard for USA use “esc”. Some international Apple keyboard use ⎋. [see MacBook Pro keyboard, French Canadian Layout] Apple documentation use ⎋. Matias Mini Tactile Pro Keyboard use ⎋

[see Escape Key]

Backspace

⌫ (U+232B: ERASE TO THE LEFT)
⟵ (U+27F5: LONG LEFTWARDS ARROW)

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 “Backspace” together with a long left arrow ⟵ printed beneath it. [see Microsoft Keyboards]

Apple Keyboards for US labels it “delete”. Their non-English version uses ⌫ or ⟵ [see Apple Keyboard Key Symbols ⌘ ⌥] [see Apple Keyboard History ⌨]

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

Arrow Keys

Commonly used: ↑ ↓ ← → • ◀ ▶ ▲ ▼ • ◁ ▷ △ ▽ • ⇦ ⇨ ⇧ ⇩ • ⬅ ➡ ⮕ ⬆ ⬇

Unicode: Arrows → ➵ ➤

Home/End Keys

Apple keyboard use: ⤒ ⤓. Before 2018, it use: ↖ ↘

Other suggestions: ⇤ ⇥

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: ⇞ ⇟ ↑ ↓ ▲ ▼ △ ▽

Apple keyboard uses ⇞ ⇟ before 2018, after uses ↑ ↓ .

Apple Keyboard Key Symbols ⌘ ⌥

Logitech Non-Gaming Keyboards (2011 to 2015) usually use ▲ ▼

Previous/Next Page

⎗ (U+2397: PREVIOUS PAGE) ⎘ (U+2398: NEXT PAGE)

These are for browser previous/next page. they are used by Thinkpad keyboard around 2000 to 2011.

Lenovo ThinkPad x220 K9C5W — Lenovo ThinkPad x220

Thinkpad Keyboards

(forward) Delete

⌦ (U+2326: ERASE TO THE RIGHT)

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

Insert

⎀ (U+2380: INSERTION SYMBOL)

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

Most keyboards label it “Insert” or “Ins”.

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

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

Clear Key

suggestions: ⎚ (U+239A: CLEAR SCREEN SYMBOL) ⌧ (U+2327: X IN A RECTANGLE BOX)

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

It is labeled as “clear”.

Print Screen

⎙ (U+2399: PRINT SCREEN SYMBOL)

I haven't seen this symbol used on keyboard.

Print Screen, SysRq, ScrLk, Pause, Break Keys

Scroll Lock (ScrLk)

Suggestions:

⤓ (U+2913: DOWNWARDS ARROW TO BAR)
⇳ (U+21F3: UP DOWN WHITE ARROW)
🔒 (U+1F512: LOCK)

Pause/Break

⎉ (U+2389: CIRCLED HORIZONTAL BAR WITH NOTCH)
⎊ (U+238A: CIRCLED TRIANGLE DOWN)

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.

I haven't see keyboard using these symbols.

System Request (SysRq)

Suggestions: 🗱 🗲 ⭜ ⭝ ⭞ ⭟ ↯ ⭍

Help Key

suggestions:

⍰ (U+2370: APL FUNCTIONAL SYMBOL QUAD QUESTION)
ℹ (U+2139: INFORMATION SOURCE)
🛈 (U+1F6C8: CIRCLED INFORMATION SOURCE)

Help key is in Apple Keyboard Problems (2006) and Sun Microsystems Type 6 Keyboard

This key is typically labeled just “help”.

Sleep Key

⏾ (U+23FE: POWER SLEEP SYMBOL)

Eject

⏏ (U+23CF: EJECT SYMBOL)

email

email ✉ 📧

browser home page key

home 🏠 🏡 ⌂

Emoji: Office Tools ✂ 📧 📁 📌

copy cut paste

There is no standard symbol for copy, cut, paste. Here's suggestions

📋 ✂ ✄ 🗐 ⎗ ⎘

undo redo

⎌ ↶ ↷ ⤺ ⤻

[see Unicode: Arrows → ➵ ➤]

Reload/Refresh Key

⟲ ⟳ ↺ ↻

The symbol ⟳ is used by Chromebook for browser refresh.

Chromebook Keyboards features search key labeled with a 🔍 (U+1F50D: LEFT-POINTING MAGNIFYING GLASS) and reload key labeled with ⟳ (U+27F3: CLOCKWISE GAPPED CIRCLE ARROW)

Microsoft Edge browser has ↻ (U+21BB: CLOCKWISE OPEN CIRCLE ARROW) for the reload button.