Sideways Black Left Pointing Index refers to a proposed or discussed emoji-style symbol concept based on the old typographic pointing-hand tradition, sometimes called a manicule or index. The idea would have represented a dark or filled hand with the index finger extended toward the left, useful for calling attention to something, marking direction, saying โlook over there,โ or emphasizing a previous item in text. Although related pointing-index symbols exist in Unicode as text characters, this specific sideways black left-pointing form did not become an officially approved RGI emoji with standard cross-platform emoji artwork.
In emoji proposal and Unicode discussion contexts, hand pointers were attractive because they could work like visual arrows while feeling more expressive, playful, or human than a simple directional sign. People may have wanted this candidate for internet comments, meme captions, navigation cues, reaction posts, and jokes that point back to an earlier message or image. Its tone could range from neutral instruction to sarcastic emphasis, similar to using a pointing finger to say โthis,โ โthat one,โ โlook left,โ or โpreviously mentioned.โ
No widely recognized Apple/iOS emoji design is known for this exact candidate. In concept art or proposal-style mockups, it would likely have appeared as a flat black or very dark hand silhouette, shown sideways with the wrist at the right and the extended index finger pointing left, resembling a dingbat pointer more than a realistic human hand. If adapted into modern emoji style, platforms might have rendered it with a rounded cartoon hand, simplified fingers, and emoji-like shading, but such appearances should be understood as conceptual rather than official Apple or Unicode artwork.
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Emoji History The emoji code/ image log of changes.
This emoji was one of the "suggested emojis" the Unicode group unveiled in June 2014 [article], however, it has been, and still is, up to the companies who support emoji in their operating systems to provide not only images but also an algorithm to replace the emoji code into the emoji image.
