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HTML Entities: Unlock the Secret Code

Warning: using special characters in your HTML code without permission can lead to browser chaos! Characters like <, >, &, and “ have superpowers in HTML, controlling the structure and meaning of your content.

What if you need to show these characters in their pure form, without confusing the browser? That’s where HTML entities come to the rescue! In this quick guide, learn how to harness the power of HTML entities to display special characters with confidence and precision

What Are HTML Entities?

An HTML entity represents a character using a code. It starts with & and ends with ;.

Examples:

  • &lt; = <
  • &gt; = >
  • &amp; = &
  • &quot; = “
  • &#169; = ©

Why Use HTML Entities?

Certain characters are part of HTML syntax, like <, >, &, and “. Using them directly can confuse the browser. Entities solve this by clearly defining them as text.

Common HTML Entities

Character Entity Name Description
<

&lt;
Less-than symbol
>

&gt;
Greater-than symbol
&

&amp;
Ampersand
“

&quot;
Double quote
‘

&apos;
Single quote
©

&copy;
Copyright symbol

Let’s explore some examples to show how HTML Entities works.

Example 1: Display Special Characters

This example shows how to use entities to display characters that would otherwise be interpreted as HTML syntax.

				
					<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>HTML Entities Example</title>
</head>
<body>
    <p>Less-than sign: &lt;</p>
    <p>Greater-than sign: &gt;</p>
    <p>Ampersand: &amp;</p>
    <p>Double quotes: &quot;</p>
</body>
</html>

 

Example 2: Displaying Copyright and Trademark Symbols

This example demonstrates how to display symbols like © and ® using entities

				
					<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>HTML Symbols Example</title>
</head>
<body>
    <p>Copyright: &copy; 2025</p>
    <p>Trademark: &reg; Example Company</p>
</body>
</html>

 

Named vs. Numeric Entities

  1. Named Entities: Use words to represent characters (e.g., &lt; for <). Named entities are easier to read and remember but are limited to commonly used symbols.
  2. Numeric Entities: Use numbers to represent characters (e.g., &#60; for <). Numeric entities are more versatile because they can represent any Unicode character. However, they are less human-readable.


Both types are useful depending on the situation. Named entities are great for readability and quick coding, while numeric entities are essential for displaying less common symbols or characters from different languages.

Tips

  • Use entities for special characters.
  • Validate your HTML to catch errors.
  • Prefer named entities for readability.

How to Find More HTML Entities
To explore more HTML entities, check out online references like W3Schools HTML Entities or the Mozilla Developer Network (MDN). These resources provide a comprehensive list of named and numeric entities.

Conclusion
HTML entities help display special characters without breaking your code. Practice using them to enhance your HTML skills!

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