iPad iMessage what is this symbol for please

[candleflame]

Hi all.
I’ve got a new 2019 iPad and on iMessage the keyboard that pops up has a key and symbol that I can’t find what it is and what it does . I tried pressing on it and it just seemed to bring up a white box on the same page. I tried searching using lots of different search terms , but haven’t found an answer. I’ve circled it in purple. Anyone here know please? Many thanks .

[durhamgirl73]

I know nothing about your query but I found the following:

https://appletoolbox.com/imessage-not-working-ios-10/

"Handwriting Feature in iMessage Not Working?
If the handwritten keyboard doesn’t automatically come up, rotate your screen to landscape, and tap the hand-drawn loop button located in the bottom-right of your on-screen keyboard. The handwriting button looks like an upside down hand-scripted “e.”To bring back the regular keyboard from the handwriting view, tap the keyboard icon on the bottom right corner."

[candleflame]

I know nothing about your query but I found the following:

https://appletoolbox.com/imessage-not-working-ios-10/

"Handwriting Feature in iMessage Not Working?
If the handwritten keyboard doesn’t automatically come up, rotate your screen to landscape, and tap the hand-drawn loop button located in the bottom-right of your on-screen keyboard. The handwriting button looks like an upside down hand-scripted “e.”To bring back the regular keyboard from the handwriting view, tap the keyboard icon on the bottom right corner."

Brilliant thank you! How did you find that? I’d tried all sorts of search terms but I didn’t know there WAS a handwriting feature! I knew someone on here would know. Thanks again .

[durhamgirl73]

Just typed in different things not knowing what I was looking for 

Then I searched for imessage icon and looked in images and saw your mystery symbol

Just lucky really

[mckha489]

FYI You can use your finger to draw or write as well as the Apple ipencil

So for instance if wanting to draw a little map.

Things you write or draw on it get saved, and you can find them by touching the little symbol that looks a bit like a clock on the extreme lower left corner of that white screen.

[candleflame]

Off to try that out Mckha! Thanks.