Enter key symbol

An arrow turning down then left, marking the enter or return key.

Also known as: Return key, Carriage return, Bent arrow, New line key

Everyday & digitalEngineering & technicalStandard profile

Meanings

The bent arrow marks the enter or return key. Its shape traces the carriage return of a typewriter: down one line, then back to the left margin.

Common modern usageVerified fact
Marks the enter or return key, which confirms an entry or starts a new line.
Contexts: Software
Historically documentedDocumented interpretation
Draws the path of a typewriter carriage return — down a line, then back to the left margin — which is why the arrow bends.
Typewriter era onward · Contexts: Software
Common modern usageCommon usage
Is shown in interfaces to indicate the default action, the one taken if the key is pressed without choosing anything else.
Contexts: Software

An arrow that starts at the upper right, turns downward, then points left.

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, 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 defined by a current official standard.

Unicode Code Chart: Arrows (U+2190–U+21FF)
The Unicode Consortium · retrieved 2026-07-31
Authoritative for the character's code point, name and block only. Unicode assigns identity; it does not define what a symbol means in use.
Enter key
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity and origin summary, not for contested detail or exact dates.

Last reviewed 2026-07-31

Meanings

The bent arrow marks the enter or return key. Its shape traces the carriage return of a typewriter: down one line, then back to the left margin.

Common modern usageVerified fact

Marks the enter or return key, which confirms an entry or starts a new line.

Contexts: Software

Historically documentedDocumented interpretation

Draws the path of a typewriter carriage return — down a line, then back to the left margin — which is why the arrow bends.

Typewriter era onward · Contexts: Software

Common modern usageCommon usage

Is shown in interfaces to indicate the default action, the one taken if the key is pressed without choosing anything else.

Contexts: Software

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, 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 defined by a current official standard.

Sources

Unicode Code Chart: Arrows (U+2190–U+21FF)
The Unicode Consortium · retrieved 2026-07-31
Authoritative for the character's code point, name and block only. Unicode assigns identity; it does not define what a symbol means in use.
Enter key
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity and origin summary, not for contested detail or exact dates.

Last reviewed 2026-07-31