Warning emoji
⚠️ says caution; ⛔ says no entry; 🚫 says prohibited. Copy them here and use the right one.
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What the warning emoji means
⚠️ (warning) is the yellow triangle: caution, “heads up”, content warnings, safety notices. It is a text-style symbol with a variation selector, so a few apps draw it plain. ⛔ (no entry) and 🚫 (prohibited) say “not allowed”; 🚨 is the urgent alert; ❗ the plain exclamation. Pick by strength: ⚠️ warns, ⛔ forbids, 🚨 shouts.
Unicode name: warning · U+26A0 U+FE0F · Emoji 0.6 (original set) · group: Symbols.
How people use it
- Content warnings: ⚠️ before spoilers or sensitive topics
- Safety: notices and instructions
- Heads up: “⚠️ road closed on Main St”
- Prohibited: 🚫 “no phones”
Compare the options
| Emoji | Name | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| warningU+26A0 U+FE0F | Caution, heads up | May render as plain text | |
| no entryU+26D4 | No entry, forbidden | Strong | |
| prohibitedU+1F6AB | Prohibited, not allowed | Strong | |
| police car lightU+1F6A8 | Urgent alert | See the siren emoji guide | |
| red exclamation markU+2757 | Emphasis | See the exclamation mark guide |
What the warning emoji is called
The yellow triangle with an exclamation mark is widely known as the warning emoji. It is also often called a warning sign or caution symbol. The meaning is consistent: something needs your notice.
On social media, the warning emoji works as a quick visual flag. The yellow triangle resembles safety signs used for general warnings, and it often appears in alerts or content notices to signal urgency.
Trigger warnings, precautions and disclaimers
In online communities, the warning emoji often acts as a trigger warning. It appears before posts that discuss sensitive topics, giving readers a chance to pause. This works like a caution marker: a small visual cue to think before continuing.
Some creators also place ⚠️ before a disclaimer or caution note. For example, a DIY video might start with the warning emoji before a safety note. It is not a formal legal symbol, but it communicates caution at a glance.
How the warning sign emoji is used
The warning emoji has a yellow triangle with a bold exclamation mark, which makes it a clear danger icon for notices, hazards, and content that needs extra care. The bright colour and dark mark are highly visible, even at small sizes.
If you see ⚠️ before a message, it’s a signal to pause and read carefully before tapping. The emoji implies “be aware” rather than “completely forbidden”. For a strict prohibition, use ⚠️ alongside 🚫 or ⛔.
In chats, the warning emoji often appears before a spoiler, a trigger warning, or a note about a risk.
Attention symbols and danger icons
When something needs to stand out instantly, ⚠️ is a direct attention symbol in the emoji set. Its bright yellow background and bold exclamation mark signal a call to stop and look. Beyond emoji, the same shape appears on road signs, machinery and packaging as a danger icon — a visual shorthand for “proceed with care”.
In chats, ⚠️ can work as a gentle danger icon without the alarm of 🚨 or the strictness of 🚫. A message like “⚠️ hot pan” tells someone to be careful without suggesting the situation is severe. The symbol’s meaning stays clear even at small sizes, which makes it suitable for warnings in apps and interfaces.
Chat examples
Real messages with ⚠️, and a reply that fits.
⚠️ traffic on the M25
taking the train
⚠️ spoilers ahead
muted
⚠️ mum is in the chat
noted
Questions people ask
What does ⚠️ mean?
Caution or a warning: something to be aware of before you continue.
What is the difference between ⚠️ and 🚨?
⚠️ is a calm caution sign; 🚨 is an urgent alert. Use ⚠️ for notices and 🚨 for breaking news.
What is the triangle with exclamation point symbol called?
The yellow triangle with an exclamation mark is commonly called the warning emoji. It is also known as a warning sign or caution symbol.
Is ⚠️ used as a trigger warning sign?
Yes. It often appears before social media posts or blog entries that discuss sensitive topics, acting as a visual trigger warning so readers can decide whether to continue.
Can ⚠️ mark a disclaimer?
It can appear before a disclaimer or caution note, such as “⚠️ not medical advice”. The symbol adds a visual cue, but written text remains clearer for formal disclaimers.
Is there an attention emoji?
Yes — ⚠️ is commonly used as an attention emoji. Its yellow-and-black design is built to catch the eye quickly, so it works well at the start of a message that needs immediate notice, like “⚠️ gate changes for flight 302”.
About this guide
Written and maintained by the Emoji Directory editorial team, without ads or sponsorship. Meanings describe how the emoji is commonly used in public posts and messages, not an official definition. Names, code points, versions, keywords and translations come from the Unicode Emoji 18.0 and CLDR data; shortcodes from the gemoji project. Last reviewed . Spotted a mistake or a new usage? Tell us, or read how the directory is made.
