𞸃 Arabic Mathematical Dal

What 𞸃 means

Arabic dal in math; the formula gives it a role. This mathematical alphabet is used in notation with Arabic- and Persian-based scripts. A 2006 description of North African Maghreb notation uses dal as the initial of دالة, the Arabic word for “function”; a Middle Eastern Mashreq example uses the Arabic letter teh (ت) for that word instead. So “function” is one regional reading, not a fixed meaning of 𞸃.

Arabic mathematical letterforms long predate digital text: the tradition appears in manuscripts and traditional print over many centuries. Work to give these forms their own computer characters began in 2005; a 2010 proposal records that many were still handwritten or produced through traditional Arabic printing rather than entered as computer text. Separate characters preserve letter-style distinctions that can matter in a formula.

Why doesn't it join like ordinary Arabic د?

It is a separate math character and does not join. In running Arabic text, ordinary د may join the letter before it; this mathematical character stays standalone. Keeping it separate lets formulas preserve a chosen mathematical letterform instead of applying ordinary text shaping.

Part of collections

Who writes 𞸃

Loading…

What it means when someone sends it to you

3 readings

Read it as Arabic dal; the expression supplies its role.

Don't confuse it with

1

د

Arabic Letter Dal

Ordinary Arabic د belongs to running text and may join the letter before it; 𞸃 is a standalone mathematical character.

Questions people ask

1

Why does 𞸃 show as a box on some devices?

Not every system ships a font for the Arabic Mathematical Alphabetic Symbols block. Where none is installed, the character shows as an empty box; adding a font such as Noto fixes it. The character itself is still correct and copies correctly.