Escape Key Symbol (⎋)

The escape key symbol ⎋ is Unicode U+238B, the technical symbol for the Escape key used to cancel actions, close modals, and exit full-screen modes. Press Copy to put it on your clipboard.

Unicode: U+238B
HTML: ⎋
Word: 238B Alt+X

How to type the escape key symbol (⎋)

The quickest way is to press Copy above and paste. To type ⎋ yourself, use the method for your device below.

Windows

In Word or Outlook, type 238B and press Alt + X. Alt + X converts the hex code before the cursor into the character, and back again.
Press Win + R, type charmap and press Enter. Tick “Advanced view”, search for Broken Circle with Northwest Arrow, then Select and Copy. Character Map is built into every version of Windows.

Mac

Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for escape and double-click it.
With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), hold Option and type 238B.

Linux & ChromeOS

Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 238b, then press Enter or Space. Works in GTK and IBus apps (GNOME, Firefox, Chrome, LibreOffice) and on ChromeOS.

iPhone & iPad

Copy ⎋ from this page, then go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement and add it with a shortcut such as ;esca. The shortcut then turns into the symbol as you type, in every app.

Android

Copy ⎋ here, then open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary and add it with a shortcut.

Microsoft Word

Type 238B, then press Alt + X.
Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Set “from” to Unicode (hex), type 238B in “Character code” and click Insert.

Google Docs

Insert → Special characters, then search for “escape” or draw it in the box.

Excel & Google Sheets

Enter =UNICHAR(9099) in a cell. It works in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.

HTML

Write ⎋ or ⎋ in your HTML.

What does ⎋ mean?

The ⎋ symbol, titled in Unicode as BROKEN CIRCLE WITH NORTHWEST ARROW (U+238B), is the standardised ISO 9995-7 symbol for the Escape (Esc) key. The pictogram displays an arrow escaping outwards through an opening in an enclosing circle, cleanly symbolising departure, cancellation, or breaking out of a locked state. IBM computer scientist Bob Bemer created the ASCII Escape character in 1960 to allow programmers to switch peripheral modes. On modern computers, pressing Escape dismisses dialogue modals, closes full-screen views, and aborts running routines. Learn more about keyboard icons in mac keyboard symbols, keyboard symbols, and our control key symbol guide.

Common uses

Dismissing overlays: closing pop-up dialogues, tooltips, lightboxes, and dropdown navigation menus
Exiting full-screen: restoring windows from full-screen media playback or gaming modes
Vim editor mode: exiting Insert mode to return to Normal command navigation mode in command-line text editors
Force quit on Mac: pressing Option + Command + Escape summons the Force Quit Applications manager

Escape Key Symbol codes for HTML, CSS and programming

Every code below produces ⎋. Use the HTML entity in web pages, the CSS escape in content, and the escape sequence in source code.

Codes for ⎋
Unicode code point	`U+238B`
HTML decimal	`⎋`
HTML hex	`⎋`
CSS content	`content: "\238B";`
JavaScript	`"\u238B"`
Python	`"\u238B"`
Python (by name)	`"\N{BROKEN CIRCLE WITH NORTHWEST ARROW}"`
Java / C#	`"\u238B"`
UTF-8 bytes	`E2 8E 8B`
UTF-16	`238B`
URL encoded	`%E2%8E%8B`

⎋ vs look-alike characters

These characters look similar to ⎋ but have a different meaning and code. Pasting the wrong one can break search, sorting and screen readers.

Char	Name	When to use it
	Erase to The Left `U+232B`	Backspace symbol, which erases text characters rather than cancelling entire operations.
	North West Arrow `U+2196`	North west arrow, a plain directional arrow without the broken enclosure circle.
	Eject Symbol `U+23CF`	Eject symbol, composed of an upward triangle sitting over a horizontal bar.

Symbols similar to ⎋

Click to copy, or open a symbol for its codes. See the full keyboard symbols collection.

⎋ character properties

Official Unicode name: BROKEN CIRCLE WITH NORTHWEST ARROW
Also known as: broken circle with northwest arrow, esc symbol, esc key, cancel symbol, iso escape
Code point: U+238B
Unicode block: Miscellaneous Technical (U+2300–U+23FF)
General category: Other symbol (So)
Added in: Unicode 3.0 (1999)
Plane: Basic Multilingual Plane (0)
Emoji: No, it is a text symbol

Frequently asked questions

Who invented the Escape key and why?

Bob Bemer introduced the Escape character at IBM in 1960. It was designed to send an out-of-band code to teleprinters and computers, signaling a change in control code interpretation without resetting the entire machine.

What is the ISO 9995-7 standard for keyboard symbols?

ISO/IEC 9995-7 is an international technical standard that defines language-neutral graphic symbols for computer keyboard keys, ensuring users around the world recognise key functions regardless of language.

Is there an alt code for the escape key symbol?

No. ⎋ is outside the Windows-1252 and code page 437 character sets, so no Alt + number code produces it. Copy it from this page, type 238B then Alt + X in Word, or find it in Character Map.

How do I type the escape key symbol on a Mac?

There is no single Option shortcut for ⎋ on the US layout. Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for “escape” and double-click it, or copy it from this page.

What is the HTML code for the escape key symbol?

⎋ has no named HTML entity. Use the numeric reference ⎋ or ⎋, or paste the character directly into a UTF-8 page.

What is the Unicode for the escape key symbol?

⎋ is U+238B, officially named BROKEN CIRCLE WITH NORTHWEST ARROW, in the Miscellaneous Technical block. It has been part of Unicode since version 3.0 (1999).