Downwards Arrow ↓

The Downwards Arrow character (↓) is a standard HTML entity defined in the HTML specification. In HTML source code, it can be written using the named entity reference ↓, the decimal numeric character reference ↓, or the hexadecimal numeric reference ↓. The character is assigned Unicode code point U+2193 in the Universal Character Set.

The downwards arrow points vertically downward and is used for dropdown indicators, descending sort order, download icons, and directional navigation. It is one of the four basic directional arrows and appears frequently in user interface design.

Arrow entities serve as directional indicators in navigation interfaces, mathematical expressions, flowcharts, and textual content throughout the web. Because they render as scalable text characters rather than bitmap images, HTML arrow entities are resolution-independent, styleable with CSS properties like color and font-size, and fully accessible to assistive technologies including screen readers.

When deciding how to encode the Downwards Arrow character in your HTML documents, the named entity ↓ is generally the most readable choice for developers reviewing or maintaining source code. The decimal form ↓ and hexadecimal form ↓ are equally valid alternatives that work in contexts where named entities may not be supported, or when generating HTML output programmatically from server-side code. All three representations produce identical visual output in every modern web browser.

Use the downwards arrow for dropdown menu indicators, descending sort indicators, download links, and 'scroll down' prompts. It is especially useful in data tables and dashboard interfaces where sort direction needs to be indicated inline with text.