Block Symbols
Copy and paste Unicode block and box-style symbols for shading, frames, separators, and text layouts
Block symbols are Unicode text characters commonly used to create square shapes, filled blocks, and shading effects in plain text. This page includes block keyboard text symbols you can copy and paste (not emojis), commonly seen as characters such as □ ■ ▓ ░ in text messages, documents, and simple text layouts.
How to Copy and Paste Block Symbols
Browse the block symbols in the grid, select the characters you want, and copy them into your clipboard. Then paste the blocks into any app where you want frames, shading, separators, or compact text-based designs.
What Are Block Symbols?
A block symbol is a Unicode character that appears as a square, rectangle, or shaded area in text. These characters are often used for simple visual structure such as borders, small UI-like separators, progress indicators, or text frames. Depending on the character, a block may look empty, filled, partially filled, or shaded.
Popular Block Symbols
These block symbols are commonly chosen because they work well in many fonts and are easy to recognize as empty, filled, or shaded squares and rectangles.
| Symbol | Name |
|---|---|
| □ | White Square (often used as an empty box) |
| ■ | Black Square (often used as a filled box) |
| ░ | Light Shade (often used for light shading) |
| ▒ | Medium Shade (often used for medium shading) |
| ▓ | Dark Shade (often used for heavy shading) |
| ▌ | Left Half Block (often used for partial fill) |
Block Symbol Categories
Block symbols include multiple visual styles, ranging from empty squares to dense fills and partial blocks. Grouping them by appearance can help you pick the right characters for frames, shading, and text-based layouts.
Empty and Outline Squares
Outline-style blocks are typically used to represent unchecked boxes, placeholders, or simple frames without fill.
□ ▢ ▫ ◻
Filled Squares and Solid Blocks
Solid blocks are often used as markers, bullets, separators, or to create bold-looking patterns in monospaced text.
■ ▪ ◼ ◾
Shading Blocks
Shaded block characters are commonly used to simulate gradients, textures, or light-to-dark fills in plain text.
░ ▒ ▓
Partial Blocks (Half and Fractional)
Partial blocks are frequently used for progress bars, meters, and compact indicators where a full square is too strong.
▌ ▐ ▍ ▎ ▏
Upper/Lower and Left/Right Blocks
These blocks can be combined to create custom fill patterns, compact charts, or segmented indicators.
▀ ▄ ▘ ▖ ▙ ▛
Rectangular Blocks and Bars
Bar-like blocks are often used as separators, emphasis lines, or building blocks for simple text frames.
▬ ▬ ▮ ▯
Decorative Box-Style Combinations
Some block and box-like symbols are commonly mixed to form text frames and simple picture-like layouts in messages.
❏ ❐ ❑ ❒ ∎
Block Symbol Usage Examples
Block symbols are often placed inline with text to add structure, separators, or simple visual emphasis. These examples show typical ways people arrange block characters in everyday text content.
Checklist Style
□ Draft ■ Complete
Separator in Text
Updates ■ Notes ■ Links
Simple Progress Bar
Loading: ▓▓▓░░ 60%
Text Frame Snippet
❐ Title ❑
Inline Highlight Block
Important ▌read this section▐
Using Block Symbols on Social Media and Online Platforms
Block symbols are Unicode characters, so they can usually be pasted into bios, posts, and messages like regular text. They are often used to create tidy separators, compact progress bars, and small framed labels. Appearance can vary by font, so it can help to preview your text after pasting.
- Instagram bios using squares as separators or bullet-like markers
- Discord channel descriptions using blocks for section dividers
- TikTok captions using shading blocks for simple emphasis
- X (Twitter) posts using squares to format short lists
- WhatsApp and Telegram messages using blocks for small text layouts
- YouTube descriptions using block characters as visual dividers
- Gaming profiles using block frames and compact progress-style lines
Professional and Practical Uses for Block Symbols
- Creating text-based frames and small labels
- Building progress indicators and simple meters
- Adding separators in lists, notes, and documentation
- Simulating shading in plain-text diagrams
- Formatting monospaced content in technical posts
How to Type Block Symbols on Any Device
- Choose one or more block symbols (for example □ ■ ▓ ░) from the symbol grid.
- Copy the selected symbols using the copy button or CTRL+C (Windows/Linux) or ⌘+C (Mac).
- Paste the symbols into your app using paste or CTRL+V (Windows/Linux) or ⌘+V (Mac).
Unicode Block Symbols and Meanings
Block symbols are defined by the Unicode standard, which assigns each character a code point and a formal name. This standardization helps block and shading characters remain usable across operating systems, browsers, and apps, although the exact visual weight can differ slightly depending on the font.
Block Symbols List and Meanings
Use this list to reference common block and shading symbols by their typical usage and Unicode naming. Select any symbol to copy it for use in messages, documents, and monospaced text layouts.