HTML Symbols & Entities

How HTML symbols and entities work

To display a special character in HTML — a copyright sign, an arrow, an em dash or a currency symbol — you can use an HTML entity: a short code the browser replaces with the character. Every entity begins with an ampersand (&) and ends with a semicolon (;). This page lets you look any of them up by name, keyword or the symbol itself, and copy the exact code you need.

Each symbol can be written three ways. A named entity uses a readable label, such as © for © or → for →. A decimal numeric entity uses the character's Unicode code point, like ©. A hexadecimal numeric entity writes that same code point in base 16, like ©. All three render identically; named entities are the most readable, while numeric entities work for every character even when no name exists.

Common symbols and their entity codes

Reference note: the three reserved characters that must always be escaped in HTML are < (<), > (>) and & (&). To convert blocks of text to or from entities, use the companion HTML entity encoder / decoder.

Frequently asked questions

What is an HTML entity?

An HTML entity is a short code that represents a character which is hard to type or reserved in HTML. It starts with an ampersand and ends with a semicolon — for example © for the copyright sign ©. Entities let you display a symbol reliably regardless of keyboard or encoding.

How do I add a copyright symbol in HTML?

Write the entity © in your HTML and the browser renders ©. You can also use the numeric forms © (decimal) or © (hexadecimal). All three produce the same copyright symbol.

What is the difference between named and numeric entities?

Named entities use a memorable label such as © or →. Numeric entities use the character's code point in decimal (©) or hexadecimal (©). Numeric entities work for any character, while named entities exist only for a defined set, so when no name exists you fall back to the numeric form.

How do I type an arrow or em dash in HTML?

Use the entity for the symbol: → gives a rightwards arrow → and — gives an em dash —. Their numeric equivalents are → / → for the arrow and — / — for the em dash. Search the reference above to find any symbol's code.

Which characters must be escaped in HTML?

The reserved characters are < (<), > (>) and & (&), because they have special meaning in markup. Inside attribute values you should also escape quotes with " or '. Other symbols like © or → are optional to escape, but entities make them portable.

Do I still need entities with UTF-8?

With a UTF-8 page you can usually paste symbols like © or → directly. You still need entities for the reserved characters < > &, and entities remain useful for invisible or ambiguous characters such as a non-breaking space ( ) and for keeping source readable.