HTML arrows use Unicode characters, so each symbol has a decimal character reference and a hexadecimal reference. The examples below pair the rendered arrow with both numeric forms and copyable markup.
Use a literal Unicode character when your editor and document are saved as UTF-8. Use a numeric reference when you want the source to state the character code explicitly. The numeric form is an HTML arrow code that browsers convert into the same visible symbol.
Common HTML arrows: left and right symbols
These are the standard horizontal arrows for navigation, labels, pagination, and directional instructions.
- ← Left arrow — decimal ←; hexadecimal ←. Example: <span>←</span> or <span>←</span>.
- → Right arrow — decimal →; hexadecimal →. Example: <span>→</span> or <span>→</span>.
- ↔ Left-right arrow — decimal ↔; hexadecimal ↔. Example: <span>↔</span> or <span>↔</span>.
How do you add an up arrow in HTML?
To insert an arrow in HTML, use its literal Unicode character or numeric reference. An up arrow in HTML commonly indicates sorting, expansion, elevation, or movement toward the beginning of a list. A down arrow in HTML can indicate the opposite direction.
- ↑ Up arrow — decimal ↑; hexadecimal ↑. Example: <span>↑</span> or <span>↑</span>.
- ↓ Down arrow — decimal ↓; hexadecimal ↓. Example: <span>↓</span> or <span>↓</span>.
- ↗ Up-right arrow — decimal ↗; hexadecimal ↗. Example: <span>↗</span> or <span>↗</span>.
- ↘ Down-right arrow — decimal ↘; hexadecimal ↘. Example: <span>↘</span> or <span>↘</span>.
Double and long HTML arrow code examples
Double arrows suit logical relationships, transformations, and two-way actions. Long arrows are useful when the symbol needs more visual emphasis in a heading or diagram label.
- ⇐ Left double arrow — decimal ⇐; hexadecimal ⇐. Example: <span>⇐</span>.
- ⇒ Right double arrow — decimal ⇒; hexadecimal ⇒. Example: <span>⇒</span>.
- ⇔ Left-right double arrow — decimal ⇔; hexadecimal ⇔. Example: <span>⇔</span>.
- ⟵ Long left arrow — decimal ⟵; hexadecimal ⟵. Example: <span>⟵</span>.
- ⟶ Long right arrow — decimal ⟶; hexadecimal ⟶. Example: <span>⟶</span>.
- ⟷ Long left-right arrow — decimal ⟷; hexadecimal ⟷. Example: <span>⟷</span>.
How do you use an arrow in HTML with UTF-8?
Save the HTML document as UTF-8 and declare that encoding in the document head with <meta charset=”UTF-8″>. This allows literal arrow characters to be stored and displayed consistently when the selected font supports them.
Literal-character markup looks like <p>Next →</p>. Numeric-reference markup looks like <p>Next →</p> or <p>Next →</p>. All three forms render as “Next →”. Decimal and hexadecimal references are interchangeable; choose the format that best matches your project’s coding conventions.
Use an arrow as text when it carries meaning, and include a word label when direction alone could be unclear. Unicode arrow characters are text glyphs; they are not the same as arrows drawn with CSS borders or other visual styling.




