Named and numbered codes for the special characters you can't just type — tap any row to copy the entity.
Tap any row to copy the value in the first column.
No matches.
Tapping a row copies the named entity (e.g. ©). The numbered version (©) works identically and is safer for characters without a named entity.
Why entities exist
Some characters can't be written directly in HTML because they mean something to the markup itself. The clearest example is < — type a literal less-than sign and the browser thinks a tag is starting. Entities are the escape hatch: < renders as a visible < without breaking anything. The same goes for the ampersand, the greater-than sign and quotes inside attributes. Beyond those required four, entities also let you insert symbols that aren't on the keyboard — copyright, em dashes, arrows, currency and accented letters.
Named vs numbered
Every entity has two forms: a named one like © that's easy to read, and a numbered one like © that works for any Unicode character. Named entities are nicer to write but only exist for a limited set; numbered entities cover everything. For modern pages saved as UTF-8 you can often just paste the real character, but entities remain the safe, unambiguous choice — especially for the reserved characters, which you should always escape. To convert formatted text to HTML, try the Markdown to HTML tool.
Which characters must I escape in HTML?
At minimum the ampersand (&), less-than (<) and greater-than (>). Inside attribute values you should also escape double quotes (") and sometimes single quotes ('). Everything else is optional but can improve reliability.
Should I use named or numbered entities?
Named entities are more readable; numbered entities work for any character, including those without a name. Both render identically — pick whichever is clearer, but always escape the reserved characters.