U+21C4
Rightwards Arrow Over Leftwards Arrow
- HTML
⇄- Unicode
U+21C4- CSS
\21C4
The rightwards arrow over leftwards arrow (⇄) is Unicode U+21C4, HTML ⇄.
A pair of opposing arrows that reads as swap, exchange or two-way sync. Interface designers reach for it as a lighter alternative to a refresh icon when an action reorders two things rather than reloading a page. ⇄ carries the Unicode name "Rightwards Arrow Over Leftwards Arrow" at code point U+21C4. Like every character in the arrows set, it is plain text rather than an icon, so a single click copies something that keeps its shape in flowcharts, diagrams and step-by-step interface copy.
Render test
Checking whether this device has a font that can draw ⇄.
| Symbol | ⇄ | |
|---|---|---|
| Unicode | U+21C4 | |
| Name | Rightwards Arrow Over Leftwards Arrow | |
| HTML (decimal) | ⇄ | |
| HTML (hex) | ⇄ | |
| CSS content | \21C4 | |
| JavaScript / JSON | \u21C4 | |
| UTF-8 bytes | 0xE2 0x87 0x84 | |
| UTF-16 units | 0x21C4 |
Source: Unicode Character Database. Code point verified as assigned in Unicode 17.0. Last updated . Report an error
How do you type the rightwards arrow over leftwards arrow on each platform?
Find your platform in the first column.
| Where | How to type it |
|---|---|
| Any device | Click the ⇄ at the top of this page. It goes straight to your clipboard, and you paste it with Ctrl+V on Windows or Cmd+V on a Mac. This is the only method that behaves identically everywhere. |
| Windows | There is no alt code for this character, because it is in neither Windows-1252 nor code page 437. Press Win and the full stop key to open the emoji and symbol panel, then use the symbols tab and search for rightwards arrow over leftwards arrow. Typing the decimal code point, 8644, after Alt is not a dependable alternative: many programs read numbers above 255 against the old code page and type a different character. |
| macOS | Add Unicode Hex Input under Keyboard settings, switch to it, then hold Option and type 21C4. Without that input source, open the Character Viewer with Control+Command+Space and search for rightwards arrow over leftwards arrow. |
| Linux and ChromeOS | Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 21c4, then press Enter or the space bar. This works in GTK applications and with IBus. |
| Microsoft Word | Type 21C4 in the document, then press Alt and X together with the cursor immediately after the last digit. Word replaces the digits with ⇄. |
| Google Docs | Insert, then Special characters, then paste U+21C4 or type rightwards arrow over leftwards arrow in the search box. You can also draw the shape in the sketch pad on the right. |
| Excel and Google Sheets | Use the formula UNICHAR(8644) in a cell. Copy the cell and paste it as a value if you want the character rather than the formula. |
| HTML | Write ⇄ or ⇄. There is no standard named entity for this character. On a page served as UTF-8 the character itself also works. |
| CSS | Use content: "\21C4" inside a ::before or ::after rule. Terminate the escape with a space if the next character is also a hexadecimal digit. |
| JavaScript | The escape \u21C4 produces this character inside a string literal, and the same escape is valid in JSON. |
More detail per platform: Windows alt codes, special characters on a Mac, special characters in Word and HTML entities.
Frequently asked questions
How do I copy the rightwards arrow over leftwards arrow symbol?
Press the Copy ⇄ button at the top of this page, or click the large ⇄, and it is placed on your clipboard. Paste it anywhere with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V. It is a real text character, so it works in documents, chats and code.
What is the Unicode code point for rightwards arrow over leftwards arrow?
The rightwards arrow over leftwards arrow has the Unicode code point U+21C4. In HTML you can write it as ⇄ or ⇄.
Does the rightwards arrow over leftwards arrow symbol work everywhere?
In almost every modern app and font, yes. If a font does not include this glyph you may see a placeholder box, but the underlying character U+21C4 is still correct and will render in a font that supports it. The render test on this page checks your own device.
Related symbols
Browse the full arrow symbols hub, or return to the searchable symbol grid.