HTML

HTML Entities

HTML Tutorial

HTML Entities

HTML Entities

HTML entities are special characters reserved in HTML that cannot be directly used in the content. Instead, they are represented by a specific code or entity name, allowing them to be displayed correctly in web browsers. This technique is essential for displaying symbols like <, >, &, and more, which would otherwise be interpreted as HTML tags or entities.

Why Use HTML Entities?

HTML entities are crucial for ensuring that special characters are correctly rendered on web pages. Without using these entities, certain characters could be misinterpreted by browsers, leading to errors in the display or functioning of the web page.

Common HTML Entities

Here are some common HTML entities that are widely used in web development:

  • Less than (<): Represented as &lt;
  • Greater than (>): Represented as &gt;
  • Ampersand (&): Represented as &amp;
  • Double Quote ("): Represented as &quot;
  • Single Quote ('): Represented as &apos;

Example: Displaying Reserved Characters in HTML

In this example, we’ll demonstrate how to display HTML tags as text by using HTML entities:

				
					<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>HTML Entities Example</title>
</head>
<body>
    <p>To display the <strong>&lt;div&gt;</strong> tag, use the following HTML entity: <code>&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;</code></p>
    <p>This will render as: &lt;div&gt;</p>
</body>
</html>

Output:

  • To display the <div> tag, use the following HTML entity: &lt;div&gt;
  • This will render as: <div>

Extended HTML Entities

Apart from the basic entities, HTML also supports many extended entities, including those for currency symbols, mathematical operators, and more.

  • Currency symbols:
    • Dollar ($): &#36;
    • Euro (€): &euro;
    • Pound (£): &pound;
  • Mathematical operators:
    • Plus-Minus (±): &plusmn;
    • Division (÷): &divide;
    • Multiplication (×): &times;

Example: Using Extended Entities

				
					<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Extended HTML Entities Example</title>
</head>
<body>
    <p>Price: &pound;100</p>
    <p>Mathematical Operation: 10 &divide; 2 = 5</p>
</body>
</html>

Output:

  • Price: £100
  • Mathematical Operation: 10 ÷ 2 = 5

Best Practices for Using HTML Entities

  1. Consistency: Always use HTML entities for special characters, especially when working with dynamic content or user inputs.
  2. Readability: While HTML entities can make code harder to read, they are crucial for ensuring the correct display of content. Consider using comments to explain the usage in complex cases.
  3. Browser Compatibility: Use HTML entities to ensure compatibility across different browsers and platforms.

By understanding and correctly using HTML entities, you can enhance the reliability and display accuracy of your web content, ensuring that special characters are properly rendered across all user devices.

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