The Symbol of Verification
The checkmark (✓), also known as a tick, is the definitive symbol for indicating "yes," "correct," or "completed." It originated from the Latin word veritas (truth), often abbreviated as 'v' in ancient manuscripts.
Usage in Modern UI
- The Heavy Check (✔): Bold and authoritative, widely used in marketing to denote features included in a plan.
- The Ballot Box (☑): The standard for interactive forms and to-do lists. It visually represents a task that has been physically marked off.
- The Cross Mark (✗): While often used to mean "wrong," in some contexts (like ballot papers in certain countries), an X actually indicates a selection, not a rejection. However, in UI design, it is almost exclusively paired with the color red to indicate errors or deletion.
Colored Emojis vs. Plain Text
Unicode offers both plain text checks (✓) which inherit your font color, and emoji-style checks (✅) which usually render as green or white-on-green. Use plain text checks for resumes and documents to maintain a professional monochrome look.