Looking to produce (or mimic) a three-dots menu icon without graphics or fancy coding? Find out here how to make a three-dots menu button ( ⋮⃝ ) with Unicode characters alone.
First, If You Watch a Frog Swallow
If you watch a frog swallow, chances are it will not be watching you. For a frog’s eyeballs move inward and downward to help push down the food in the direction of digestion during swallowing (or help hold it in place at least).
So, a frog will typically close its eyes to enjoy what’s on the menu.
Now—speaking of menus:
How to Make a Three-Dots Menu Button with Unicode Characters
Time needed: 2 minutes
To construct a menu button sporting three dots (horizontally or vertically) optionally inside a circle using nothing but Unicode characters:
- Position the text cursor where you want the three dots menu to appear.
- Insert an ellipsis character for the three dots.
Here’s which: Typically, use either a vertical ellipsis (
U+22EE) or a middle ellipsis (U+22EF).
Here’s how: Use your operating system’s method of inserting Unicode characters directly (using Windows, with KDE and Gnome Linux and on a Mac) or copy the symbol below for pasting. - Now insert the combining circle to draw a circle around the three-dots ellipsis.
Here’s how: Insert U+20DD directly or, again, copy the character below for pasting.
Alternatives: You can also use an enclosing square (U+20DE) or square with rounded corners (U+20E3).
Unicode Elements for a Three-Dots Menu Button
Use the table below to copy the individual elements for a three-dots menu using just characters:
Vertical ellipsis ⋮ | |
Middle ellipsis ⋯ |
Circle ⃝ | |
Square ⃞ | |
Keycap ⃣ |
Curious about what’s behind any text? How to View Non-Printable Unicode Characters and Code Points
How to Make a Three-Dots Menu Button in Unicode: FAQ
Can I copy the buttons for pasting?
Yes.
You can copy the Unicode code point combinations below for pasting:
⋮⃝ | |
⋮⃞ | |
⋮⃣ |
⋯⃝ | |
⋯⃞ | |
⋯⃣ |
Is there a Unicode character for a hamburger menu button?
Yes.
To replace the three dots with three horizontal bars, you can use the identity symbol ≡ (U+2261) or the I Ching trigram symbol ☰ (U+2630).
Identity ≡ | |
Heaven trigram ☰ |
(How to make a three-dots menu button in Unicode first published December 2024)