๐ค๏ธ
Outbox Tray
OUT-boks tray
Definitions
1
Communication ยท Office
Common
A digital representation of an office outbox tray used to indicate sending, uploading, or sharing content from a user to an external destination.
Commonly used in email contexts, file sharing, and to indicate completed tasks that have been sent or submitted.
Just submitted my application! ๐ค๏ธ Fingers crossed!
Social media post about job application
All reports have been uploaded to the server ๐ค๏ธ
Work messaging platform
In digital communication, represents the action of sending rather than the physical object itself.
2
Technology ยท Productivity
Uncommon
Used to indicate content being exported, uploaded, or shared from a device to a cloud service or external platform.
Appears in software interfaces and tutorials to indicate upload or export functions.
To export your data, click the ๐ค๏ธ icon in the top menu.
Software tutorial
Has evolved from representing physical mail to primarily digital file transfers in modern usage.
Cultural Context
Has transitioned from representing physical mail trays to symbolizing digital sending actions, reflecting the shift from paper to electronic communication.
While visually representing a physical object, it's almost exclusively used to represent the abstract concept of sending or uploading.
Regional Variations
United States
More commonly used in professional contexts to indicate task completion and submission.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Commonly used in email communication and business contexts to indicate sent items.
Gen_Z: Rarely used except in formal contexts like school assignments or job applications.
Older: Less frequently used; may be confused with physical mail references.
Millennials: Used in professional settings to indicate task completion and submission of work deliverables.
Common Combinations
๐ค๏ธโ
Task completed and submitted
Used in workplace contexts to indicate finished and delivered work
๐ค๏ธ๐ฉ
Correspondence exchanged
Indicates complete communication cycle of sending and receiving
๐ค๏ธ๐
Processing or syncing data
Used in technical contexts to show ongoing upload processes