What Is Unicode Bold (and How It’s Different From Formatting)
The short answer
Unicode bold does not turn on a bold setting. It replaces each character with a bold Unicode version of that character. That’s why it survives copy‑paste in plain‑text fields.
Unicode bold vs. native bold
| Feature | Native formatting | Unicode bold |
|---|---|---|
| Works in plain‑text fields | ❌ | ✅ |
| Searchable as normal text | ✅ | ⚠️ often not |
| Best for long paragraphs | ✅ | ❌ |
| Best for short emphasis | ✅ | ✅ |
Where Unicode bold works best
- Bios and profile headlines
- Caption hooks (first line)
- Short CTAs
- Labels in lists or templates
The limitations you should know
- Searchability: bold Unicode is not the same as normal letters.
- Accessibility: screen readers may read styled text differently.
- Font differences: characters can look slightly different across devices.
Tips for safe use
- Keep bold lines short (3–8 words).
- Use one style per post.
- Always preview on mobile.
- Keep important keywords in plain text.
Final takeaway
Unicode bold is best used as emphasis, not body text. Use it sparingly to create clear structure and stronger scanability.