HTML Entity Reference
Free online html entity reference. No sign-up, no installation. Runs entirely in your browser.
| Char | Entity Name | Decimal | Hex | Description |
|---|
Tip: Click any row to copy the entity name to your clipboard. Search by character (e.g., “&”) or entity name (e.g., “amp”).
What Are HTML Entities?
HTML entities are special text representations used to display reserved characters and symbols in web pages. They consist of an ampersand (&), followed by either a named entity or a numeric code, and end with a semicolon (;). For example, the ampersand character itself is written as & in HTML.
Entities are essential for displaying characters that have special meaning in HTML (like < and >), non-breaking spaces, currency symbols, mathematical operators, arrows, and many other special characters. They ensure consistent rendering across different browsers and platforms.
How to Use This Tool
- Search: Type a character (like &, ©, or →) or an entity name (like “amp”, “copy”, “rarr”) in the search box to find matching entities.
- Filter: Use the category dropdown to browse entities by type (Basic, Latin Extended, Greek, Math, etc.).
- Copy: Click any row in the table to copy the entity name to your clipboard (the & name; format).
- Reference: See the decimal code (&) and hex code (&) for each entity—use whichever format you prefer in your HTML.
Common Use Cases
- Web Development: Quickly reference entity codes when writing HTML content to ensure special characters display correctly.
- Content Creation: Find the right symbol (copyright ©, registered ®, currency symbols) without leaving your editor.
- Mathematical & Scientific Content: Access Greek letters (α, β, γ) and mathematical symbols (±, ≈, ∫) for technical documents.
- Typography: Discover punctuation entities like em-dashes (—), en-dashes (–), and proper quotes (” “).
- Accessibility: Ensure symbols render consistently across browsers by using standard HTML entities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between named, decimal, and hex entities?
All three formats represent the same character. Named entities like & are easiest to remember. Decimal codes like & use the character’s Unicode decimal value. Hex codes like & use hexadecimal. Use whichever is most convenient—they all work the same in HTML.
Can I use HTML entities in CSS or JavaScript?
HTML entities work in HTML and CSS content properties, but not directly in JavaScript strings. In JavaScript, use Unicode escape sequences instead (e.g., \u0026 for &). For CSS, entities work in the content property.
Which entities are essential to know?
The most important ones are: & (ampersand), < (less than), > (greater than), " (quote), and (non-breaking space). These are reserved or commonly needed in HTML.
Why does my character not display correctly?
Ensure your HTML file has the correct character encoding. Add <meta charset=”UTF-8″> in your <head> section. Also, make sure you’re using the correct entity format (named, decimal, or hex) for the character you want.
Can I copy the entity directly from this tool?
Yes! Click any row in the table to copy the entity name (including the & and 😉 to your clipboard. A confirmation message will appear briefly at the top of the tool.
How do I find a character I don’t know the name of?
Type the character directly into the search box (e.g., ©, →, ℵ) and the tool will show you its entity names and codes. You can also browse by category to discover symbols in the type you’re interested in.