What ⚪ means
Read the surrounding words before deciding it means empty. In a checklist, the white dot can mark an item not yet done. Beside a label, it can simply identify the white option. If you use it for “pending” or “off,” say so, because the circle alone does not tell your reader which state you mean.
More diagram than facial expression; let the accompanying text set the tone.
Don't confuse it with
1Combination ideas
1Black-and-white contrast; add labels if the circles stand for different states.
Worth knowing
- Its formal Unicode name is MEDIUM WHITE CIRCLE. It sits beside the gender symbols, and Unicode's chart notes uses such as genderless or engaged; these are specialist notations, not everyday message meanings.
Questions people ask
1Why does ⚪ look different on other phones?
Every platform draws its own artwork for the same code point. The character you send is identical; Apple, Google, Samsung and WhatsApp each render it in their own style.
How to type ⚪
Windows
Win+.Open the emoji picker and search “white circle”.
macOS
Control+Command+Spaceopens the character viewer.
iOS / Android
Emoji keyboard → search “white circle”.
Chat apps
:white_circle:the common shortcode; support varies by platform.HTML
⚪Codes and encoding1 code points
HTML decimal
⚪
HTML hex
⚪
CSS content
content: "\26AA";
Each escape is closed by the next backslash; a trailing space is needed before a literal hex digit.
URL encoded
%E2%9A%AA
1
On screen
1
Code points
1
JS .length
3
UTF-8 bytes
A visible symbol can contain several code points. JS .length counts UTF-16 units; UTF-8 counts bytes.