What ⌻ means
In NARS2000, ⌻ applies a function to a diagonalizable matrix. As of 2026, its documentation classifies quad jot as a matrix operator; other APL interpreters may assign the token different roles. A matrix is a square grid of numbers; diagonalizable means it can be rewritten so each direction is handled separately.
APL is an array programming language, designed for operating on collections of values such as rows, columns, and matrices. Kenneth Iverson began it as mathematical notation for describing algorithms at Harvard in 1957. His 1962 book A Programming Language gave the notation its name; APL/360 brought it into widespread interactive programming in 1968.
Why does quad jot look different in my editor?
Its display depends on whether your font includes a usable glyph. APL has many specialized symbols, and fonts differ in coverage and design. If ⌻ appears as a missing-glyph box, use a font with APL glyph coverage in that editor.
Specialist: ⌻ is an APL token whose role can vary by interpreter.
Don't assume every APL interpreter uses the NARS2000 operator definition.
Part of the collection
Don't confuse it with
2
Questions people ask
1Why does ⌻ show as a box on some devices?
Because that device's fonts have no glyph for it. The character is still correct and still copies correctly — the box is a missing glyph, not a broken character.
More like this
9
How to type or find ⌻
- Search it as
- quad jot APL · NARS2000 · diagonalizable matrix · type quad jot
- Shows up in
- Anything that takes text · its shape is whatever your font draws
⌻\233BCodes and encoding1 code points
A visible symbol can contain several code points. JS .length counts UTF-16 units; UTF-8 counts bytes.