The 😂 emoji is officially named FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY in Unicode. It shows a laughing face with tears at the eyes and is widely used to mark intense amusement.
The character became especially prominent in digital communication because it can replace a written reaction such as “that is hilarious.” In 2015, Oxford Dictionaries selected the emoji as its Word of the Year, citing its cultural significance and widespread use. That title was a cultural award, not a change to the Unicode name.
It is often confused with 🤣, officially ROFL, or ROLLING ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING. 😂 usually depicts laughter with tears while remaining upright; 🤣 communicates a more extreme reaction. Emoji artwork and exact facial details differ slightly between platforms.