┼ light cross
┼
U+253C
Copy as
| Character | ┼ | |
|---|---|---|
| Unicode | U+253C | |
| HTML decimal | ┼ | |
| HTML hexadecimal | ┼ | |
| HTML named entity | ┼ | |
| CSS content | \253C | |
| JavaScript / UTF-16 | \u253C | |
| UTF-8 bytes | E2 94 BC |
Meaning & usage
Light cross (┼) forms part of a text-based line, frame or shaded block.
Match neighboring pieces and use a monospace font when alignment matters; proportional fonts can break a carefully arranged box.
The light cross piece uses a light or patterned stroke. Match that style with adjacent box pieces; U+253C is the exact code to preserve its geometry.
light cross occupies one Unicode code point. A similar-looking letter, punctuation mark or emoji is not necessarily interchangeable with ┼ in search, filenames or text processing.
How to type light cross
- Windows
- Use Win + . for the emoji and symbol panel, or Character Map for supported fonts. In Microsoft Word, enter each hexadecimal code (253C) and press Alt + X. There is no universal decimal Alt code for this character; legacy Alt codes depend on the code page.
- Mac
- Open Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space and search for light cross. With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled, hold Option and enter the UTF-16 units shown above. Standard Option shortcuts do not cover every Unicode symbol.
- Linux
- In compatible GTK applications, press Ctrl + Shift + U, enter 253C, then Enter. Enter each code point separately for sequences. Other desktops or apps may require their character picker.
- iPhone & Android
- Look for light cross in your emoji keyboard if available, or copy it here and paste. Save frequently used symbols as a text replacement or keyboard shortcut; availability varies by keyboard.