The left-to-right mark (LRM, U+200E) is an invisible Unicode character that forces left-to-right text direction. It is a zero-width character with no visible appearance, and its sole purpose is to influence how the Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm determines text direction.

While its intended use is for controlling text direction in documents that mix left-to-right languages (English, French, German) with right-to-left languages (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian), the LRM has become widely known for a different reason: it is the character used to send blank or empty messages on WhatsApp.

How to Send a Blank Message on WhatsApp

This is the most popular use of the left-to-right mark. Here is how:

1. Copy the LRM character. Click the copy button at the top of this page to copy U+200E to your clipboard.
2. Open WhatsApp. Open a chat with the person or group you want to message.
3. Paste the character. Tap the message input field and paste (long-press > Paste on mobile, Ctrl+V on desktop).
4. Send. Press the send button. The message will appear blank or empty to the recipient.

Why LRM Works for WhatsApp

WhatsApp requires at least one character to send a message. Regular spaces are stripped. Zero-width spaces may also be filtered. But LRM (U+200E) is treated as a valid character by WhatsApp's input processing, so it passes through and creates a message that contains a character but displays nothing.

Alternatives If LRM Stops Working

WhatsApp occasionally updates its text processing. If LRM no longer works:

• Try Braille Pattern Blank (U+2800)
• Try Hangul Filler (U+3164)
• Try Zero-Width Space (U+200B)

Common Uses

• Sending blank WhatsApp messages. The most popular use case.
• Fixing text direction in mixed-script documents. When an English sentence contains Arabic or Hebrew words, or vice versa, LRM ensures that numbers, punctuation, and neutral characters display on the correct side.
• Correcting number display in RTL text. In Arabic text, numbers and dates written in Western digits can appear on the wrong side of surrounding text. LRM placed before or after the number forces it to display correctly.
• Email formatting with mixed scripts. Emails that contain both English and Arabic text often use LRM to prevent garbled text direction.
• Fixing file paths and URLs in RTL interfaces. File paths with mixed Latin and Arabic folder names can display in confusing order. LRM forces correct left-to-right display of the path.

How to Type

How Bidirectional Text Works

To understand LRM, you need to understand the basics of the Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm (UBA). When a text contains both LTR and RTL characters, the UBA determines how to display them:

1. Strong characters have an inherent direction. Latin letters are LTR. Arabic and Hebrew letters are RTL.
2. Weak characters (numbers, some punctuation) inherit direction from surrounding strong characters.
3. Neutral characters (spaces, most punctuation) also inherit direction from context.

The problem arises with neutral and weak characters. In a sentence like "The price is 100 ريال", the number 100 and the currency symbol need to appear in the correct position relative to both the English and Arabic text. Without LRM, the bidirectional algorithm may place the number on the wrong side.

LRM acts as an invisible "strong LTR character." It tells the bidirectional algorithm: "the text direction at this point is left-to-right." This anchors nearby neutral and weak characters to the LTR direction.

Example Problem

Without LRM, this mixed text:

"Call 555-1234 for المعلومات"

Might render with the phone number in the wrong position relative to the Arabic word. Adding LRM after the phone number forces correct positioning:

"Call 555-1234[LRM] for المعلومات"

Technical Details

• Unicode category: Cf (Format). It is a formatting character with no visible representation.
• Width: Zero. No visible glyph, no horizontal space.
• Bidirectional class: L (Left-to-Right). This is its entire purpose.
• Line breaking: Does not create or prevent line breaks.
• Effect on surrounding text: Forces adjacent neutral and weak characters to resolve as LTR.

In code:

// Detect LRM in texttext.includes('\u200E')
// Remove all LRM characterstext.replace(/\u200E/g, '')
// Remove all bidirectional marks (LRM and RLM)text.replace(/[\u200E\u200F]/g, '')

Security Considerations

• URL and path manipulation. LRM inserted into URLs or file paths can change how they display in RTL interfaces without changing where they point. This has been used in phishing attacks targeting Arabic and Hebrew speakers.
• Display spoofing. In mixed-script contexts, strategic placement of LRM can make text display in a misleading order, potentially changing the apparent meaning of a message.
• Trojan Source related. While LRM itself is not part of the Trojan Source attack (which uses overrides), it is part of the broader set of bidirectional characters that can manipulate text display.

LRM vs Related Characters

The general rule for developers: use LRM for quick inline fixes, LRI (U+2066) for properly isolated LTR runs in modern code, and avoid the override and embedding characters entirely unless you have a specific technical reason.

For sending blank messages and invisible text on other platforms, see our pages on Hangul Filler (best for Among Us and Twitter/X), Zero-Width Space (best for Fortnite), and Braille Pattern Blank (best for Discord).