The red heart emoji is one of the clearest symbols of love and affection. It can be romantic, friendly, supportive, or family-oriented depending on who sends it and why.
❤️
Common uses
People use it to show love, appreciation, sympathy, gratitude, encouragement, or emotional support. It can also be used as a simple warm response when words feel unnecessary.
Red heart versus <3
The text emoticon <3 is an older typed version of a heart. The red heart emoji is the modern symbol, but both usually point to affection.
For sadness or emotional damage, the broken heart emoji is more specific.