Language

Symbol For Backspace

U+2408Control Pictures

Copy and paste ␈. The Symbol For Backspace character has Unicode code point U+2408 and decimal HTML code ␈.

Symbol codes

Unicode
U+2408
HTML Code
␈
CSS Code
\2408
HEX Code
␈

Technical properties

Unicode 18.0.0

Code point
U+2408
Decimal
9224
Unicode name
SYMBOL FOR BACKSPACE
Block
Control Pictures · U+2400–U+243F
General category
Other Symbol (So)
Script
Common
Introduced
Unicode 1.1
JavaScript
"\u2408"
Illustration of the Symbol For Backspace symbol

About Symbol For Backspace

␈ is encoded in Unicode as code point U+2408 (decimal 9224). Its official Unicode name is SYMBOL FOR BACKSPACE.

It belongs to the Control Pictures block (U+2400–U+243F), its General Category is Other Symbol (So), and it was added in Unicode 1.1, released in 1993. Its script value is Common: it is shared across writing systems rather than belonging to one.

Sources: Unicode Character Database 18.0.0.

How to type or insert Symbol For Backspace

Any device
Select Copy symbol, then paste with Ctrl+V, or ⌘+V on a Mac.
Microsoft Word
Type 2408, then press Alt+X.
macOS Character Viewer
Press Control+⌘+Space and search for “symbol for backspace”.
Linux (GTK and IBus)
Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 2408, then press Space.
HTML
␈. In a UTF-8 page you can also paste the character itself.
CSS
content: "\2408"; in a ::before or ::after rule.
JavaScript
"\u2408"

Common questions about Symbol For Backspace

What is the Symbol For Backspace symbol?

␈ (Symbol For Backspace) is a symbol in Unicode’s Control Pictures block. Its code point is U+2408, and it has been part of the standard since Unicode 1.1 (1993).

How do I copy and paste the Symbol For Backspace symbol?

Select Copy symbol at the top of this page, then paste with Ctrl+V on Windows and Linux or ⌘+V on a Mac. On a phone, tap Copy symbol, then touch and hold where you want it and choose Paste. ␈ pastes as ordinary text, so it works in documents, messages, and code.

How do I type the Symbol For Backspace symbol on Windows?

In Microsoft Word, type 2408 and press Alt+X to turn the code into ␈. In any app, open Character Map from the Start menu, search for “symbol for backspace”, then select and copy the character.

How do I type the Symbol For Backspace symbol on a Mac?

Press Control+⌘+Space to open the Character Viewer, search for “symbol for backspace”, and double-click the result to insert it.

How do I type the Symbol For Backspace symbol on an iPhone or Android phone?

The simplest way is to copy it from this page and paste it where you need it. If you use it often, save it as a text shortcut: on iPhone, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement; with Gboard on Android, go to Gboard settings > Dictionary > Personal dictionary.

Can I use the Symbol For Backspace symbol in Word, Google Docs, and social media?

Yes. ␈ is a standard Unicode character, so you can paste it into Microsoft Word, Google Docs, emails, and posts or bios on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok. In Google Docs you can also choose Insert > Special characters and search for “symbol for backspace”. In Word, choose Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, set from to Unicode (hex), and enter 2408 as the character code.

Is the Symbol For Backspace symbol an emoji?

No. ␈ is a text symbol, not an emoji. It takes the color and size of the surrounding text, and its exact shape depends on the font.

Why does the Symbol For Backspace symbol show as a box or question mark?

An empty box or a question mark means the font on that device has no glyph for ␈. The character is still there: it appears correctly wherever a font covers Unicode’s Control Pictures block, and free font families such as Google Noto cover nearly all of Unicode.

What are the HTML and CSS codes for the Symbol For Backspace symbol?

In HTML, write ␈ (decimal) or ␈ (hexadecimal). In CSS, use content: "\2408"; in a ::before or ::after rule, and in JavaScript "\u2408". See all HTML codes.