What is Emoji?
Emoji is a standardized set of pictographic symbols and icons encoded in Unicode, used in digital communication to express emotions, objects, concepts, and ideas across different platforms and devices.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Emoji (絵文字) |
|---|---|
| Created | 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita at NTT DoCoMo, standardized in Unicode 6.0 (2010) |
| Specification | Official Specification |
How It Works
Emoji originated in Japan in the late 1990s, with the term combining the Japanese words for 'picture' (絵, e) and 'character' (文字, moji). Initially proprietary to Japanese mobile carriers, emoji were standardized by Unicode Consortium starting in 2010, enabling cross-platform compatibility. Each emoji has a unique Unicode code point, and platforms render them using their own designs while maintaining semantic consistency. The Unicode Standard continually expands the emoji set, with categories including smileys, people, animals, food, activities, travel, objects, symbols, and flags. Emoji have become a universal visual language, transcending linguistic barriers in digital communication.
Key Characteristics
- Encoded as Unicode characters
- Platform-specific visual rendering
- Zero Width Joiner (ZWJ) sequences for combinations
- Skin tone modifiers (Fitzpatrick scale)
- Gender variations through modifiers
- Flag sequences using regional indicators
- Continuously expanded by Unicode Consortium
Common Use Cases
- Social media communication
- Messaging and chat applications
- Email subject lines and content
- Marketing and branding
- User interface elements
Example
Loading code...Frequently Asked Questions
Why do emojis look different on different platforms?
Each platform (Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc.) designs their own emoji artwork while following Unicode specifications. The Unicode standard only defines what an emoji represents, not how it should look, allowing creative interpretation by each vendor.
How do I find the Unicode code point for an emoji?
You can use online tools like Unicode.org's emoji charts, browser developer tools, or programming languages to find code points. For example, in JavaScript, use 'emoji'.codePointAt(0).toString(16) to get the hexadecimal code.
What is a Zero Width Joiner (ZWJ) sequence?
ZWJ sequences combine multiple emojis into a single glyph using the Zero Width Joiner character (U+200D). For example, 👨💻 (man technologist) combines 👨 (man) + ZWJ + 💻 (laptop). Not all combinations are supported on all platforms.
How are new emojis added to Unicode?
New emojis are proposed to the Unicode Consortium, which evaluates them based on factors like expected usage, distinctiveness, and compatibility. The approval process typically takes 1-2 years from proposal to release in a new Unicode version.
Why do some emojis not display correctly?
Emojis may not display correctly if the device or font doesn't support that Unicode version, if ZWJ sequences aren't recognized, or if the platform hasn't implemented the specific emoji. Updating your OS or app usually resolves these issues.