0x231B

0x231B, designated in Unicode as U+231B, is the HOURGLASS character. It belongs to the Miscellaneous Symbols block and is categorized as a Symbol Other (So). The decimal value of the code point is 8987.

The glyph depicts an upright hourglass with sand between the bulbs. It is commonly used to represent time, the passage of time, waiting, or deadlines in text, documents, and user interfaces.

Encoding and rendering: As a single Unicode scalar, its appearance depends on font support. Many modern fonts display a simple hourglass glyph, while some platforms may substitute an emoji-like hourglass or use a text fallback. Variation Selector-16 can request emoji-style presentation on characters that support it, but U+231B is usually shown as a text symbol by default.

Related symbols and notes: U+231A (WATCH) is a related time-related symbol in the same region, and U+23F3 (HOURGLASS NOT DONE) is a distinct hourglass symbol that is sometimes provided as an emoji on platforms with emoji sets. The exact rendering of U+231B varies across platforms and fonts, though its semantic meaning—time or waiting—remains consistent.

Usage: In documentation, user interfaces, calendars, and communications, U+231B serves as a neutral, language-independent indicator of time, deadlines, or waiting states without relying on textual wording.