Step 1: Determine the UTF-8 encoding bit layout
The character has the Unicode code point U+243A. In UTF-8, it is encoded using 3 bytes because its codepoint is in the range of
0x0800to0xffff.
Therefore we know that the UTF-8 encoding will be done over 16 bits within the final 24 bits and that it will have the format:1110xxxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx
Where thexare the payload bits.UTF-8 Encoding bit layout by codepoint range Codepoint Range Bytes Bit pattern Payload length U+0000 - U+007F 1 0xxxxxxx 7 bits U+0080 - U+07FF 2 110xxxxx 10xxxxxx 11 bits U+0800 - U+FFFF 3 1110xxxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx 16 bits U+10000 - U+10FFFF 4 11110xxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx 21 bits Step 2: Obtain the payload bits:
Convert the hexadecimal code point U+243A to binary:
00100100 00111010. Those are the payload bits.Step 3: Fill in the bits to match the bit pattern:
Obtain the final bytes by arranging the paylod bits to match the bit layout:
11100010 10010000 10111010
CHARACTER 243A·U+243A
Character Information
Code Point
U+243A
HEX
243A
Unicode Plane
Supplementary Ideographic Plane
Character Representations
Click elements to copy| Encoding | Hex | Binary |
|---|---|---|
| UTF8 | E2 90 BA | 11100010 10010000 10111010 |
| UTF16 (big Endian) | 24 3A | 00100100 00111010 |
| UTF16 (little Endian) | 3A 24 | 00111010 00100100 |
| UTF32 (big Endian) | 00 00 24 3A | 00000000 00000000 00100100 00111010 |
| UTF32 (little Endian) | 3A 24 00 00 | 00111010 00100100 00000000 00000000 |
HTML Entity
␺
URI Encoded
%E2%90%BA
Description
The Unicode character U+243A is known as the "Black Square" (CHARACTER 243A). It holds a significant role in digital text as it serves as an important placeholder for graphical applications, such as image processing software and computer graphics. Its primary function is to act as a background or container for other elements, enabling developers to arrange content on a page or screen in a more organized manner. Although it may appear visually empty or transparent, the Black Square occupies space digitally, ensuring that subsequent elements are positioned accurately within the designated area. This character does not carry any cultural or linguistic significance but is essential for maintaining proper layout and formatting in various digital platforms. In summary, U+243A, the "Black Square," plays a crucial yet often overlooked role in digital text as a versatile placeholder for graphical applications and a fundamental component of modern web and software design.
How to type the symbol on Windows
Hold Alt and type 9274 on the numpad. Or use Character Map.