Nabla Symbol (∇)
The nabla symbol ∇ is Unicode U+2207, the upside-down triangle of vector calculus. Press Copy to put it on your clipboard.
- Unicode
U+2207- HTML
∇- Word
2207 Alt+X
How to type the nabla 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 2207 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 Nabla, 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 nabla and double-click it.
- With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), hold Option and type 2207.
Linux & ChromeOS
- Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 2207, 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 ;nabl. 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 2207, then press Alt + X.
- Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Set “from” to Unicode (hex), type 2207 in “Character code” and click Insert.
Google Docs
- Insert → Special characters, then search for “nabla” or draw it in the box.
Excel & Google Sheets
- Enter
=UNICHAR(8711)in a cell. It works in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.
HTML
- Write
∇or∇in your HTML.
What does ∇ mean?
∇, called nabla or “del”, is the vector differential operator. ∇f is the gradient of a scalar field, ∇ · F the divergence and ∇ × F the curl, which is why it runs through Maxwell’s equations and fluid dynamics. The name comes from a Greek word for a harp of similar shape. In machine learning ∇ₓL is the gradient that gradient descent follows downhill.
Common uses
- Gradient: ∇f
- Maxwell’s equations: ∇ · E = ρ/ε₀
- Optimisation and machine learning
Nabla 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.
| Unicode code point | U+2207 | |
|---|---|---|
| HTML entity (named) | ∇ | |
| HTML decimal | ∇ | |
| HTML hex | ∇ | |
| CSS content | content: "\2207"; | |
| JavaScript | "\u2207" | |
| Python | "\u2207" | |
| Python (by name) | "\N{NABLA}" | |
| Java / C# | "\u2207" | |
| LaTeX | \nabla | |
| UTF-8 bytes | E2 88 87 | |
| UTF-16 | 2207 | |
| URL encoded | %E2%88%87 |
∇ 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 |
|---|---|---|
White Down-Pointing TriangleU+25BD | White down-pointing triangle, a geometric shape. | |
IncrementU+2206 | Increment (upright triangle), used for change. |
Symbols similar to ∇
Click to copy, or open a symbol for its codes. See the full triangle symbols collection.
∇ character properties
- Official Unicode name
- NABLA
- Also known as
- del operator, nabla, gradient symbol, inverted delta
- Code point
- U+2207
- Unicode block
- Mathematical Operators (U+2200–U+22FF)
- General category
- Math symbol (Sm)
- Added in
- Unicode 1.1 (1993)
- Plane
- Basic Multilingual Plane (0)
- Emoji
- No, it is a text symbol
Frequently asked questions
Is nabla the same as an upside-down delta?
It looks like one, but it is its own operator character (U+2207). Use ∇ for the gradient, not a rotated Δ.
Is there an alt code for the nabla 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 2207 then Alt + X in Word, or find it in Character Map.
How do I type the nabla 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 “nabla” and double-click it, or copy it from this page.
What is the HTML code for the nabla symbol?
Use the named entity ∇ or the numeric reference ∇ (hex ∇). All three display ∇ in every browser.
What is the Unicode for the nabla symbol?
∇ is U+2207, officially named NABLA, in the Mathematical Operators block. It has been part of Unicode since version 1.1 (1993).