Dark mode moon symbol

A crescent moon toggling a light-on-dark colour scheme.

Everyday & digitalStandard profile

Meaning

A crescent moon marks the switch to a light-on-dark colour scheme, usually paired with a sun for the opposite. The association is with night rather than with anything about the display.

InformalCommon usage
Switches the interface to a light-on-dark colour scheme, or indicates that one is in use.
Contexts: Software

Visual description

A curved sliver formed where one circle overlaps another, tapering to points at both ends and thickest at its middle.

Symmetry: none
Orientation: upright

Commonly confused with: Moon symbol
The astronomical crescent stands for the Moon itself; this one is a display setting that borrows the shape.
Commonly confused with: Do not disturb symbol
Several platforms use a crescent moon for do-not-disturb rather than for dark mode, so the same glyph does two jobs across systems.

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references.

Sources

Light-on-dark colour scheme
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity, origin and current use, not for contested detail or exact dates.
Icon (computing)
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity, origin and current use, not for contested detail or exact dates.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

Part of

Interface status indicators

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Meaning

A crescent moon marks the switch to a light-on-dark colour scheme, usually paired with a sun for the opposite. The association is with night rather than with anything about the display.

InformalCommon usage

Switches the interface to a light-on-dark colour scheme, or indicates that one is in use.

Contexts: Software

Related & commonly confused symbols

Commonly confused with: Moon symbol
The astronomical crescent stands for the Moon itself; this one is a display setting that borrows the shape.
Commonly confused with: Do not disturb symbol
Several platforms use a crescent moon for do-not-disturb rather than for dark mode, so the same glyph does two jobs across systems.

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references.

Sources

Light-on-dark colour scheme
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity, origin and current use, not for contested detail or exact dates.
Icon (computing)
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity, origin and current use, not for contested detail or exact dates.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01