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Arrows in LaTeX math

In math mode, \rightarrow (or \to) gives →, \Rightarrow gives ⇒ and \leftrightarrow gives ↔; a long prefix makes them longer, and \xrightarrow{text} draws an arrow that stretches under a label.

Using arrows

Arrow names are built from parts: the direction (left, right, leftright, up, down), a capital first letter for a double arrow, and long for a longer one. So \Longrightarrow is a long double arrow to the right. Arrows are spaced like relations.

Arrows for limits, maps and implications

LaTeXOpen in editor
As $n \to \infty$, $a_n \rightarrow 0$. The map $f\colon A \to B$ sends
$x \mapsto x^2$, and $p \Rightarrow q$ holds, but not $q \Rightarrow p$.
Rendered by Scissor LaTeX: Arrows for limits, maps and implications

\implies (⟹) and \iff (⟺) are long double arrows with extra space around them, meant for logical statements in a display.

Long arrows for logic

LaTeXOpen in editor
x^2 = 44 \implies x = \pm\sqrt{44} \qquad A \subseteq B \iff A \cup B = B

Arrows with labels

The \x... arrows stretch to fit a label above them, and an optional label below in square brackets. They come from amsmath and mathtools.

Extensible arrows

LaTeXPreamble: \usepackage{mathtools}Open in editor
A \xrightarrow{f} B \xrightarrow[\text{onto}]{g \circ h} C \qquad
X \xleftarrow{\;\sim\;} Y \qquad P \xRightarrow{\text{44 steps}} Q

All arrows

Click a copy button to copy the command.

  • \leftarrow
  • \rightarrow
  • \leftrightarrow
  • \Leftarrow
  • \Rightarrow
  • \Leftrightarrow
  • \lArr
  • \Larr
  • \longleftarrow
  • \longrightarrow
  • \longleftrightarrow
  • \Longleftarrow
  • \Longrightarrow
  • \Longleftrightarrow
  • \to
  • \gets
  • \mapsto
  • \multimap
  • \longmapsto
  • \nRightarrow
  • \hookrightarrow
  • \looparrowright
  • \nrightarrow
  • \rightsquigarrow
  • \rightarrowtail
  • \Rrightarrow
  • \twoheadrightarrow
  • \nLeftarrow
  • \hookleftarrow
  • \looparrowleft
  • \nleftarrow
  • \leftarrowtail
  • \Lleftarrow
  • \twoheadleftarrow
  • \uparrow
  • \Uparrow
  • \downarrow
  • \Downarrow
  • \iff
  • \nLeftrightarrow
  • \nleftrightarrow
  • \leftrightsquigarrow
  • \updownarrow
  • \Updownarrow
  • \nearrow
  • \searrow
  • \nwarrow
  • \swarrow
  • \circlearrowleft
  • \curvearrowleft
  • \circlearrowright
  • \curvearrowright
  • \rightrightarrows
  • \leftleftarrows
  • \upuparrows
  • \downdownarrows
  • \leftrightarrows
  • \rightleftarrows
  • \rightharpoonup
  • \rightharpoondown
  • \leftharpoonup
  • \leftharpoondown
  • \upharpoonleft
  • \upharpoonright
  • \downharpoonleft
  • \downharpoonright
  • \leftrightharpoons
  • \rightleftharpoons
  • \Darr
  • \dArr
  • \darr
  • \dashleftarrow
  • \dashrightarrow
  • \leadsto
  • \Lsh
  • \restriction
  • \Rsh
  • \Uarr
  • \uArr
  • \uarr
  • \xleftarrow
  • \xrightarrow
  • \xLeftarrow
  • \xRightarrow
  • \xleftrightarrow
  • \xLeftrightarrow
  • \xhookleftarrow
  • \xhookrightarrow
  • \xtwoheadleftarrow
  • \xtwoheadrightarrow
  • \xleftharpoonup
  • \xrightharpoonup
  • \xleftharpoondown
  • \xrightharpoondown
  • \xleftrightharpoons
  • \xrightleftharpoons
  • \xtofrom
  • \xmapsto
  • \xlongequal

\implies, \impliedby, \iff and the short names \rArr, \lrArr and so on are shown on the miscellaneous symbols page.

Dashed arrows

\dashrightarrow and \dashleftarrow work; in earlier versions they stopped the whole document. The characters ⇢ and ⇠ work too.

Dashed arrows

LaTeXOpen in editor
A \dashrightarrow B \qquad C \dashleftarrow D

Questions and answers

What is the difference between \to and \rightarrow?

None: both give →. \to reads better for limits and functions, \rightarrow for anything else.

How do I put text over an arrow in LaTeX?

Use \xrightarrow{text}, with an optional [below] label: \xrightarrow[\text{below}]{\text{above}}. The arrow grows with the label.

How do I write "implies" in LaTeX?

\implies gives ⟹ with logical spacing, \Rightarrow a shorter ⇒. For "if and only if" use \iff or \Leftrightarrow.

Every example on this page is typeset by Scissor LaTeX when the site is built. Last updated 2026-11-06.