Arrow [{pt1,pt2}]
is a graphics primitive that represents an arrow from pt1 to pt2.
Arrow [{pt1,pt2},s]
represents an arrow with its ends set back from pt1 and pt2 by a distance s.
Arrow [{pt1,pt2},{s1,s2}]
sets back by s1 from pt1 and s2 from pt2.
Arrow [curve,…]
represents an arrow following the specified curve.
Arrow
Arrow [{pt1,pt2}]
is a graphics primitive that represents an arrow from pt1 to pt2.
Arrow [{pt1,pt2},s]
represents an arrow with its ends set back from pt1 and pt2 by a distance s.
Arrow [{pt1,pt2},{s1,s2}]
sets back by s1 from pt1 and s2 from pt2.
Arrow [curve,…]
represents an arrow following the specified curve.
Details
- Arrow can be used in both Graphics and Graphics3D (two- and three-dimensional graphics).
- The following curve specifications can be used in Graphics :
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- The following curve specifications can be used in Graphics3D :
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- Arrow [Line […]] is equivalent to Arrow […]. Arrow [Tube […]] yields a 3D arrow based on a tube.
- Arrow [{pt1,pt2,…}] represents an arrow whose shaft passes through the sequence of points pti.
- The positions of points can be specified either in ordinary coordinates as {x,y}, or in scaled coordinates as Scaled [{x,y}] or using ImageScaled or Offset . »
- The shaft of the arrow consists of a sequence of straight segments joining the specified points.
- Arrow [{pt1,pt2}] is drawn by default with its tail at pt1 and its head at pt2.
- The form, orientation, and position of arrowheads can be specified by an Arrowheads directive. »
- Graphics directives such as RGBColor or Thickness apply to both the shaft and arrowhead elements of an arrow. »
- You can prevent directives from applying to an arrowhead by including explicit directives within the graphic used to specify the arrowhead.
- In Arrow [{pt1,pt2},s] the setback distance s is measured in the ordinary coordinate system of the whole graphic, so that the arrow will just touch Disk [pti,s]. »
- If the whole graphic does not have AspectRatio->Automatic , then a specified arrow setback may correspond to different distances in different directions in the graphic.
Examples
open all close allBasic Examples (6)
A 2D arrow primitive:
A 3D arrow primitive:
A full 3D arrow primitive using tubes:
Curved arrows:
Double-headed arrows:
Differently styled 2D arrows:
Scope (17)
Arrow Specification (7)
Straight arrow:
Jagged arrow:
Line and tube arrows:
Curved arrows:
Multiple disconnected arrows:
Specify the setback distance for 2D arrows:
For curved arrows:
Specify the setback distance for 3D arrows with line shaft:
Arrow Styling (7)
Arrows with different thicknesses:
Dashed arrows:
Colored arrows:
Two-dimensional arrows with different sizes of arrowheads:
Three-dimensional arrows with different sizes of arrowheads:
Graphics can be used as an arrowhead for 2D and 3D arrows:
Use Graphics3D to specify the arrowhead:
Coordinate Specification (3)
Applications (7)
Make programmatic annotations to plots:
A simple display of vector fields:
VectorPlot and VectorPlot3D use Arrow :
Use Arrow as an EdgeShapeFunction for GraphPlot :
Define an annotated arrow primitive:
Parallel dimensioning:
Show the direction along curves:
Properties & Relations (1)
Use Arrowheads to style the axes:
Neat Examples (4)
A random collection of arrows:
An arrow wheel:
Tangent vectors along an elliptic curve:
A billboard tree using a projected arrowhead:
Related Guides
History
Introduced in 2007 (6.0) | Updated in 2008 (7.0) ▪ 2010 (8.0)
Text
Wolfram Research (2007), Arrow, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Arrow.html (updated 2010).
CMS
Wolfram Language. 2007. "Arrow." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2010. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Arrow.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (2007). Arrow. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Arrow.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_arrow, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Arrow}", year="2010", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Arrow.html}", note=[Accessed: 04-December-2025]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_arrow, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Arrow}, year={2010}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Arrow.html}, note=[Accessed: 04-December-2025]}