About HTML Entities Reference
Comprehensive HTML entity reference. Find named entities, numeric codes, and hex codes for special characters including symbols, punctuation, math operators, arrows, and Greek letters. Copy entities with one click.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are HTML entities?
HTML entities are special codes used to display reserved characters in HTML. For example, < displays < and & displays &. They prevent browsers from interpreting characters as HTML code.
When should I use named vs numeric entities?
Named entities like © are more readable. Numeric entities like © work for any character. Hex entities like © are common in generated code. All three produce the same result.
Why do I need to encode < and >?
The browser interprets < and > as HTML tags. Using < and > displays them as text instead of being parsed as markup. Essential for showing code snippets.
When should I use HTML entities?
Use HTML entities when displaying special characters like <, >, &, quotes, or symbols in HTML content. This is essential for showing code snippets and preventing XSS vulnerabilities.
What is the difference between named and numeric entities?
Named entities use readable names like © for copyright. Numeric entities use decimal (©) or hex (©) codes. Numeric entities work for any Unicode character.