How to type ┬ on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+194.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 194 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The box drawings light down and horizontal symbol ┬ appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "box drawings light down and horizontal". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find ┬, click Select, then Copy.
How to type ┬ on a Mac
There is no direct keyboard shortcut for ┬ on a Mac.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "box drawings light down and horizontal" in the search box and double-click the result. It will be remembered under Frequently Used.
How to type ┬ on iPhone and iPad
The iOS keyboard does not include ┬, so the reliable way is to copy it from this page, then press and hold in any text field and tap Paste.
If you use it often, create a shortcut: open Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, paste ┬ in the Phrase field and type a short code such as ;box in the Shortcut field. Typing that code will then insert ┬ anywhere.
How to type ┬ on Android
Copy the symbol from this page, then long-press in a text field and choose Paste. Gboard also keeps a clipboard history: tap the clipboard icon on the toolbar to paste it again later.
For a permanent shortcut, open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, add ┬ as the word and a short code as the shortcut.
How to type ┬ in Microsoft Word
- Type the Unicode hex code 252C where you want the symbol.
- Press Alt+X. Word converts the code into ┬.
This works on Windows in Word, Outlook and OneNote and needs no numeric keypad. You can also go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, set the font to a Unicode font and type 252C in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(9516) returns the symbol.
How to type ┬ in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "box drawings light down and horizontal" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(9516).
┬ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ┬ |
| HTML decimal | ┬ |
| HTML hex | ┬ |
CSS content | "\252C" |
| JavaScript | "\u252C" |
| Python | "\u252C" |
| URL encoded | %E2%94%AC |
Because ┬ is a standard Unicode character (U+252C), you can also paste it directly into any UTF-8 file. The escaped forms above are only needed when the file encoding is uncertain or the symbol must be entered on a keyboard without it.
Where the box drawings light down and horizontal symbol is used
Used in ASCII/Unicode diagrams, terminal UI borders, and plain-text tables to show a downward branch meeting a horizontal line, like a column divider in a header row: ├───┬───┤. Often confused with the plus-shaped ┼ or the simple T letter.
Frequently asked questions
What is this character used for in table drawings? +
It marks a junction where a vertical line drops from a horizontal line, commonly forming the top divider between columns in text-based tables.
Is ┬ the same as a plus sign? +
No, ┬ only extends downward from the horizontal line, while the plus-shaped ┼ extends both up and down, connecting four directions instead of three.
What is the Alt code for the box drawings light down and horizontal symbol? +
The Alt code for ┬ is Alt+194. Hold Alt, type 194 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
How do I type ┬ on a Mac? +
There is no dedicated Mac shortcut for ┬. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "box drawings light down and horizontal", and double-click it. Or copy it from this page.
How do I type the box drawings light down and horizontal symbol on iPhone or Android? +
Phone keyboards do not include ┬ by default. Copy it from this page and paste it, or add it as a text replacement shortcut in Settings so you can type it with a short abbreviation.
What is the HTML code for ┬? +
Use ┬ in HTML. The numeric form ┬ works too. In CSS use content: "\252C" and in JavaScript use "\u252C".