U23F0

U+23F0, commonly named ALARM CLOCK, is a Unicode code point in the Misc Technical block. It is used to depict a traditional alarm clock and is employed in text to symbolize time, reminders, or scheduled events.

Rendering and encoding: The character is represented in Unicode as U+23F0. In UTF-8 it encodes as E2 8F B0, and in UTF-16 as 0x23F0. In most fonts, the glyph shows a clock with bells on top; however, appearance varies by font and platform. On systems that support emoji presentation, it may render as a colorful emoji-style symbol; a variation selector U+FE0F can request emoji presentation, while U+FE0E requests a text presentation.

Usage and semantics: As a symbol, it commonly appears in calendars, reminders, or user interface elements related to alarms and timekeeping. It is not tied to a particular time or locale, and its meaning depends on the surrounding context.

History and standards: U+23F0 is part of the Unicode standard’s broad set of time and symbol characters, providing a portable way to refer to alarm clocks across different scripts and platforms. Its inclusion helps maintain interoperability in digital text and interfaces that convey scheduling and deadlines.

See also: Other clock- or time-related symbols exist in Unicode, including additional clock faces and related pictographs used to denote time, schedules, or alarms in various contexts.