Understanding HTML Character Entities

HTML character entities serve as specialized codes enabling the accurate display of reserved characters and a wide array of symbols not readily available on standard keyboards.

These entities prevent browsers from misinterpreting characters that are part of HTML's syntax, such as the less-than sign (<), which typically signals the beginning of a tag. By using entities like <, developers ensure these characters are rendered as intended content rather than markup, maintaining the structural integrity and visual presentation of web pages.

Note that you can see how these are used in an online HTML editor. Just enter the code, then click Run to see how they’re displayed.

While modern web development increasingly leverages UTF-8 encoding for broad character support, HTML entities remain vital for guaranteed cross-browser compatibility and precise control over text rendering, particularly for characters that might pose rendering challenges in certain environments.

For a more in-depth exploration of the non-breaking space and its applications in HTML, including practical examples, read the guide to  . But that’s not the only one.

Here are a few other widely-used HTML character entities:

• © (or ©): Copyright symbol

• ® (or ®): Registered trademark symbol

• ° (or °): Degree symbol for temperatures or angles

• € (or €): Euro currency symbol

• > (or >): Greater than sign

• < (or <): Less than sign

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