Leftwards Squared Arrow

It points left; the boxy outline is only its visual style. In Word or Outlook, type 1F838 and press Alt+X; other apps can use a Unicode picker. Use it as a direction, pointer, or leftward step when nearby words or layout provide a target.

Do not automatically turn it into a special interface action. Unicode's arrow guidance notes that arrows can serve different applications; this character supplies a leftward arrow shape, while the message or layout supplies the action.

In right-to-left text, the arrow is not automatically mirrored. If direction matters, choose the arrow character that points the way you intend.

Why does it look like a Wingdings arrow?

It comes from a legacy computer symbol-font repertoire. The earliest documented trail for the font family behind this style is 1990–1991: Microsoft says Kris Holmes and Charles Bigelow made Lucida Icons, Arrows, and Stars, then renamed and reorganized them as Wingdings in 1992. The fonts were built for familiar computer icons and graphical-interface pointing, including many arrow styles.

Unicode's 2011 proposal explains the transition: font-based private mappings were awkward for interchange and search. A 2012 Unicode proposal identifies the source style label for this squared left arrow as j6; that label describes an old font mapping, not another Unicode character. Standard encoding lets the design travel as a named text character instead of as an instruction to switch fonts.

The meaning shift is practical: the old font supplied the picture; Unicode supplies a leftward arrow character whose exact job still comes from the surrounding text or layout.