Hangul Filler (U+3164) | The Invisible Korean Character Explained

Understand the use of Hangul Filler (U+3164), an invisible Korean character used for formatting and blank names.

Table of Contents

What Is Hangul Filler (U+3164)?

The Hangul Filler (U+3164) is a special Unicode character used in Korean text processing. Unlike visible Hangul characters, it serves as:

  • A placeholder in text input systems
  • An invisible spacing character for formatting
  • A compatibility character for legacy systems

? Blank social media bios (Instagram, Twitter, Discord)
? Invisible usernames in games (Fortnite, Steam, Roblox)
? Placeholder text in apps that require non-empty input

Technical Specifications

Property Value
Unicode U+3164
HTML Entity ?
JavaScript \u3164
Category Other Letter (Lo)
Visibility Invisible

How to Use Hangul Filler

1. Keyboard Input Methods

  • Windows Korean IME: Not directly typable
  • Mac Korean Input: Not directly available
  • Workaround: Copy-paste or use character codes

2. Code Implementation

html

Visible?Text

javascript

const text = "Hidden" + "\u3164" + "Text";

Manual Entry (For Developers)

  • Windows: Alt + 12644 (Numpad required)
  • Mac: Option + 3164 (using Unicode Hex Input)
  • HTML: Use ? in web development

3. Copy-Paste Method

Copy this character: “?” (select between quotes)

Practical Applications

1. Text Field Placeholders

javascript

document.getElementById("username").placeholder = "Enter\u3164name";

2. Formatting Alignment

html

Left???Right

3. Special Effects in Games/Chat

javascript

// Creates "empty" looking text in games
const stealthName = "\u3164\u3164\u3164";

Comparison With Similar Characters

Character Unicode Visibility Primary Use
Hangul Filler U+3164 ? Invisible Korean text processing
Zero Width Space U+200B ? Invisible General word breaking
Ideographic Space U+3000 ? Visible CJK text spacing

Technical Considerations

? Font Support Issues

  • May display as a blank box (?) in unsupported fonts
  • Some applications may strip it automatically

? Pro Tips

  1. Test rendering across platforms before deployment
  2. Combine with white-space: pre CSS for consistent display
  3. Use sparingly – can cause text parsing issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Is using U+3164 cause ban?
Most platforms allow it, but some games (like Fortnite) may flag it. Use at your own risk.
Why does my Hangul Filler disappear?
Some apps auto-remove invisible characters. Try U+200B or U+2800 instead.
Can I use this on WhatsApp?
yes, but it may appear as a blank space instead of fully invisible.