Superscript Four (⁴) is the Unicode character at U+2074 in the Subscripts and Superscripts block. It looks like a small raised 4 and appears in power notation such as x⁴ and 10⁴.
Remember
Character ⁴
Unicode U+2074
Hex entity ⁴
Decimal ⁴
CSS escape \2074
Named entity (none)
All of these produce the same glyph: ⁴. Prefer the Unicode character (or its entities) when you need that exact glyph; use <sup>4</sup> when you want semantic superscript formatting instead.
Reference
Quick Reference
One table for every form you will actually use.
Form
Code
Where it goes
Direct character
⁴
HTML text (UTF-8)
Hex entity
⁴
HTML markup
Decimal entity
⁴
HTML markup
CSS escape
\2074
Stylesheet content
Named entity
—
Not defined in HTML5 (unlike ¹–³)
Semantic tag
<sup>4</sup>
HTML (formatting, not the ⁴ glyph)
When to use which
Situation
Use
Need the Unicode glyph ⁴
Type ⁴, or ⁴ / ⁴
Generated text via ::before / ::after
content: "\2074"
Semantic superscript for any text
<sup>4</sup>
Plain digit four (not superscript)
Type 4 (U+0034)
Looking for &sup4;
Does not exist — use numeric form
See it
Live Preview
Superscript Four rendered in common writing contexts.
Inline textFourth power: x⁴ = x · x · x · x
Large glyph⁴
In a power10⁴ = 10,000 2⁴ = 16
Monospacex⁴ → fourth power
With entitiesHex: ⁴ | Decimal: ⁴
Semantic <sup>x4 (tag styles digit 4)
Code
Complete HTML Example
One page that shows Superscript Four with the hex entity, decimal entity, CSS escape, and the semantic <sup> option. Use View Output or open the live editor.
Hex + Decimal + CSS + <sup>
Four ways to show a raised four in a single document.
html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Superscript Four (⁴) in HTML</title>
<style>
#point::after {
content: "\2074";
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Superscript Four using Hex Code: ⁴</p>
<p>Superscript Four using HTML Code: ⁴</p>
<p id="point">Superscript Four using CSS Entity: </p>
<p>Semantic alternative: x<sup>4</sup></p>
</body>
</html>
Superscript Four using Hex Code: ⁴
Superscript Four using HTML Code: ⁴
Superscript Four using CSS Entity: ⁴
Semantic alternative: x⁴
How It Works
1. Hex:U+2074 → ⁴ in HTML. The browser turns it into ⁴.
2. Decimal: same code point as 8308 → ⁴. Same result as hex.
3. CSS: use \2074 in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that ⁴ after the paragraph text.
4. Semantic <sup>:x<sup>4</sup> styles digit four as a superscript. Prefer this when you need meaning, not a specific Unicode glyph.
Pitfalls & Tips
Common mistakes when working with Superscript Four entities.
Named?
No &sup4;
HTML5 has ¹, ², and ³ only. For ⁴, use numeric forms.
CSS vs HTML
Do not mix escapes
\2074 belongs in CSS. ⁴ / ⁴ belong in HTML.
⁴ vs 4 vs ₄
Different characters
⁴ is U+2074; digit 4 is U+0034; subscript ₄ is U+2084.
Glyph vs tag
Choose intentionally
Use the Unicode glyph for exact look; use <sup> for semantic superscript on any text.
Semicolon
End references
Always finish with ; — write ⁴, not ⁴.
Fonts
Check the glyph
Some fonts draw ⁴ weakly. If appearance matters, test the font or prefer <sup>.
Compatibility
Browser Support
Superscript Four (U+2074) and its numeric entity forms (⁴, ⁴, CSS \\2074) are supported in all mainstream browsers. Glyph shape depends on the font.
✓ Universal support
Superscript Four (⁴)
Encode with hex, decimal, or CSS escape — or use <sup> for semantic formatting.
100%Browser coverage
Google ChromeSupported
Yes
Microsoft EdgeSupported
Yes
Mozilla FirefoxSupported
Yes
Apple SafariSupported
Yes
OperaSupported
Yes
Internet ExplorerAll versions
Yes
U+2074 / entitiesFull support
Bottom line: Use ⁴ or ⁴ for the Unicode glyph, \\2074 only inside CSS content, and <sup>4</sup> when you want semantic superscript.
Remember
Key Takeaways
Unicode: Superscript Four is U+2074 (decimal 8308).
HTML: use ⁴ or ⁴ when you need an entity.
CSS: use \2074 inside content for generated text.
Alternative: use <sup>4</sup> for semantic superscript formatting.
One line:U+2074 → ⁴ / ⁴ / CSS \2074, or semantic <sup>4</sup>.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use ⁴ (hex), ⁴ (decimal), or the CSS escape \2074 in the content property. All render ⁴. You can also paste the character ⁴ directly when your file is UTF-8.
U+2074 (hex 2074, decimal 8308). It belongs to the Subscripts and Superscripts Unicode block.
No. HTML5 defines ¹, ², and ³, but not &sup4;. Use numeric references like ⁴ or ⁴.
Use ⁴ (or its entities) when you need the exact Unicode superscript glyph. Use <sup>4</sup> when you want semantic superscript formatting for arbitrary text.
No. Digit four is U+0034. Subscript four is U+2084 (₄). Superscript Four is U+2074 (⁴) — a different character.
HTML entities (⁴ or ⁴) go in markup. The CSS escape \2074 is used in stylesheets (usually in the content property of ::before/::after). Both render ⁴.
🤔
Did you know?
Superscript four is Unicode U+2074 (decimal 8308). HTML5 has no named entity for it — unlike ¹, ², and ³. Use ⁴ or ⁴. It is a different character from digit four (U+0034) and from subscript four ₄ (U+2084).
