HTML Code for Common Symbols

HTML uses special codes to support content for common symbols not found on keyboards, as well as in situations where the symbol itself serves a dual purpose in HTML as both a control character and a display character.

To add a letter, number, or special symbol to the displayed text of a webpage, use either the HTML number or the HTML name of the symbol.

For example, one way to display the text ¡Buenos días! using HTML codes is:

¡Buenos días 

This approach isn't easily parsed by human eyes in the HTML source document, but you're guaranteed that the result will render correctly on the page, whereas merely pasting the already-formatted text may not.

Notice that these codes begin with an ampersand? In strictly compliant HTML, instead of writing something like Jane likes the bed & breakfast you'd instead write:

Jane likes the bed & breakfast

or

Jane likes the bed & breakfast

This practice avoids confusion related to the use of a raw ampersand within the HTML document.

HTML Codes for Symbols and Punctuation

The most commonly used HTML codes relate to symbols and punctuation:

HTML Codes for Numerals

HTML supports codes for most of the common Latin symbols, including figures and letters. You'd use an HTML code for a numeral when you're displaying the number-as-number on the page and not part of a formula.

HTML Codes for Unaccented Letters

The standard upper-case and lower-case letters also map to HTML numbers, and you'd use them in similar circumstances as for numerals.

HTML Codes for Accented Letters

Codes for accented letters get more use because there's no guarantee that embedding the actual symbol within a page will display correctly. Because HTML source code is parsed by a browser before it's displayed, and because individual viewers of the webpage may use different fonts and encoding schemes depending on the default language of their browser, the best way to ensure accurate reproduction of these accented letters is to rely on the HTML number or the HTML name.