How Emoji Really Work: Unicode, Skin Tones and Joined Symbols
The story behind emoji: how they're encoded, why they look different on different phones, and how single emoji are built from several characters.
Emoji feel like pictures, but to a computer they're characters, just like letters. Understanding this explains a lot about how they behave in text files.
Emoji are Unicode characters
Each emoji has a code point in the Unicode standard, like any letter. When you type an emoji, your phone stores that code, and the font decides what picture to show.
Why they look different on different devices
Unicode defines which emoji exist and what each means, not exactly how it looks. Each phone maker and app draws its own artwork. So the same grinning face can look slightly different on different systems, though the meaning is the same.
Skin tones
Many people-emoji can be shown in different skin tones. This works by combining two characters: the base emoji and a skin-tone modifier. Your phone displays them as a single image. If a system doesn't support it, you might see the base emoji followed by a coloured square.
Joined emoji
Some emoji are built by joining several emoji with an invisible connector called a zero-width joiner. For example, some family or profession emoji are made this way. On systems that support them, they display as one image. On others, you may see the separate parts one after another.
Flags
Flag emoji are formed from pairs of special letters that represent country codes. Systems that support them show a flag. Some systems show the two letters instead.
Length can surprise you
Because one emoji can be several code points, counting characters can give surprising results. A single-looking emoji may count as more than one character in some programs, which matters if you write within character limits.
Emoji in text files
- Save as UTF-8 so emoji are stored correctly.
- Expect variation in appearance between devices.
- Test sharing. An emoji you see on your phone may look different or fail to display on an older device.
- Don't rely on emoji for meaning in important notes. Add words too.
Searching
Searching for an emoji in a note works like searching for text, as long as you use the same emoji, since similar-looking ones can be different characters.
New emoji
New emoji are added regularly. An older phone may not have a font that includes the newest ones, and may show a blank box.
Use them well
Emoji can add warmth and quick meaning to informal notes, such as a star for important or a tick for done. A text editor with emoji support makes that easy.
Notepad+ Text Editor
A fast, advanced text editor for notes and code, with emoji support
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