What’s the difference between HTML references and CSS escape for U+2135?

HTML accepts numeric references and &alefsym; in markup; the CSS escape \2135 belongs in stylesheets, typically in the content property of ::before/::after.

HTML Entity for Alef Symbol (ℵ)

Q: How do I display the Alef symbol (ℵ) in HTML?

Use ℵ (hex), ℵ (decimal), the named entity &alefsym;, or \2135 in CSS content. All render ℵ (Unicode U+2135, Alef symbol).

Q: What is the Unicode value for the Alef symbol?

U+2135 (hex 2135, decimal 8501). Unicode names it Alef symbol; it is in the Letterlike Symbols block (U+2100–U+214F). It is used for aleph cardinals in mathematics and is distinct from the Hebrew script letter alef at U+05D0.

Q: When should I use the Alef symbol in HTML?

For mathematical notation (e.g. ℵ₀, ℵ₁ with subscripts), logic and set theory education, and typography demos—not as a substitute for normal Hebrew paragraph text, which uses Hebrew letters such as U+05D0.

Q: Is there a named HTML entity for the Alef symbol?

Yes: &alefsym; maps to U+2135 in HTML. Numeric references remain useful in generated markup or XML contexts.

Beginner

⏱️ 5 min read

📚 Updated: May 2026

🎯 1 Code Example

Unicode U+2135

What You'll Learn

How to display the Alef symbol (ℵ) in HTML using numeric references, the standard named entity &alefsym;, or a CSS escape. Unicode assigns this code point the name Alef symbol (U+2135) in the Letterlike Symbols range; it is the glyph used for aleph cardinals in set theory (e.g. ℵ₀, ℵ₁ with subscripts).

Not the same as Hebrew body text: ordinary Hebrew words use the script letter U+05D0 (Hebrew letter alef). Use U+2135 when you need the standalone mathematical letterlike ℵ. You may write ℵ, ℵ, &alefsym;, or \2135 in CSS content.

⚡ Quick Reference — Alef Symbol Entity

Unicode U+2135

Letterlike Symbols block

Hex Code ℵ

Hexadecimal reference

HTML Code ℵ

Decimal reference

Named Entity &alefsym;

Readable HTML form

Reference Table

Name           Value
────────────   ──────────
Unicode        U+2135
Hex code       &#x2135;
HTML code      &#8501;
Named entity   &alefsym;
CSS code       \2135

Complete HTML Example

This example shows the Alef symbol (ℵ) using hexadecimal code, decimal HTML code, the named entity &alefsym;, and a CSS content escape on a pseudo-element:

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
 <style>
  #point:after{
   content: "\2135";
  }
 </style>
</head>
<body>

<p>Alef Symbol using Hexa Decimal: &#x2135;</p>
<p>Alef Symbol using HTML Code: &#8501;</p>
<p>Alef Symbol using HTML Entity: &alefsym;</p>
<p id="point">Alef Symbol using CSS Entity: </p>

</body>
</html>

Try It Yourself

🌐 Browser Support

Numeric references, &alefsym;, and CSS escapes for U+2135 are supported in all modern browsers. Final appearance depends on font coverage for the Letterlike Symbols block:

Chrome 1+

Firefox 1+

Safari 1+

Edge 12+

Opera 4+

Android 4.4+

iOS Safari 1+

👀 Live Preview

See the Alef symbol rendered in typical contexts:

Cardinality sketch Examples: ℵ₀, ℵ₁ (U+2135 plus subscript digits).

Large glyph ℵ

Named entity In markup, &alefsym; expands to the same ℵ as ℵ.

Monospace CARD=U+2135

Font note Math fonts often style ℵ distinctly from body text; pair with a math-capable stack for formulas.

🧠 How It Works

Hexadecimal Code

ℵ references Unicode 2135 in hexadecimal. The x prefix marks a hex numeric character reference.

HTML markup

Decimal HTML Code

ℵ is the decimal code point 8501 for the same character—often used when authors think in decimal Unicode values.

HTML markup

Named Entity

&alefsym; is the standard named entity for U+2135. It is easy to read in hand-written HTML and matches legacy math entity tables.

HTML markup

CSS Entity (Escape)

\2135 is the CSS escape (four hex digits) used in content on ::before / ::after to emit ℵ without placing the raw character in HTML.

CSS stylesheet

Same visual result

All methods render ℵ. Unicode is U+2135 (Letterlike Symbols, U+2100–U+214F). Official name: Alef symbol. For Hebrew words use U+05D0 (Hebrew letter alef), not this code point.

✅

Use Cases

The Alef symbol (ℵ, U+2135) fits these kinds of content:

∅ Set Theory & Cardinals

Aleph-zero, aleph-one, and related notation in lecture notes and math blogs (often with subscripts).

📚 Academic Publishing

Logic, foundations of mathematics, and philosophy pages that cite cardinal arithmetic.

💻 Unicode & Font Specimens

Demonstrating Letterlike Symbols coverage and named entity &alefsym;.

📋 Educational STEM Sites

Glossary entries and diagrams where a single ℵ glyph is clearer than a bitmap.

📝 Equation-Adjacent Copy

Inline HTML next to MathML or KaTeX output for consistent character identity.

🎨 Typography & Design

Book covers, posters, and branding that reference aleph notation in Latin layout.

💬 Not for Hebrew Paragraphs

Running Hebrew sentences use the Hebrew script block (e.g. U+05D0); use U+2135 for the letterlike math symbol only.

💡 Best Practices

Do

Use UTF-8; prefer &alefsym; in hand-authored HTML when readability matters
Use numeric references in generated markup or strict XML pipelines if needed
Combine ℵ with proper subscripts (<sub> or Unicode sub digits) for aleph numbers
Test with math-friendly fonts (STIX, Latin Modern Math, etc.) for formulas
Use \2135 only in CSS content, not inside HTML text nodes

Don’t

Use U+2135 for normal Hebrew spelling; use Hebrew letters in the Hebrew block instead
Assume every UI font styles ℵ like a textbook math font
Mix hex, decimal, and named forms at random in one template without a style guide
Paste CSS escapes into HTML markup (they belong in stylesheets)
Expose ℵ alone as the only explanation of deep cardinal concepts without plain-language context

Key Takeaways

Three HTML encodings render ℵ

ℵ ℵ &alefsym;

In CSS, use the escape in content on pseudo-elements

\2135

Unicode U+2135 (Alef symbol) in Letterlike Symbols

Distinct from U+05D0 (Hebrew letter alef) used in Hebrew text

Add context or alt text when ℵ carries mathematical meaning for diverse readers

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How do I display the Alef symbol (ℵ) in HTML?

Use ℵ (hex), ℵ (decimal), &alefsym; (named), or \2135 in CSS content. All produce ℵ.

What is the Unicode value for the Alef symbol?

U+2135 (hex 2135, decimal 8501). Unicode’s official name is Alef symbol; it sits in the Letterlike Symbols block. Hebrew prose uses different code points (e.g. U+05D0).

When should I use the Alef symbol in HTML?

For mathematical aleph notation, logic and foundations content, and typography that explicitly needs the letterlike ℵ—not as a drop-in for arbitrary Hebrew words.

What’s the difference between HTML references and the CSS escape for ℵ?

Markup accepts ℵ, ℵ, or &alefsym;. The CSS escape \2135 belongs in stylesheets, usually in the content property of ::before or ::after. Same glyph, different layers.

Is there a named HTML entity for the Alef symbol?

Yes: &alefsym; refers to U+2135 in HTML. Numeric references remain portable in generated or XML-first workflows.

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About the author

Mari Selvan M P 🔗

Developer, cloud engineer, and technical writer

Experience 12 years building web and cloud systems
Focus Full Stack Development, AWS, and Developer Education

I write practical tutorials so students and working developers can learn by doing—from databases and APIs to deployment on AWS.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate (Credly)

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Aktieselskab (⅍) Alembic (⚗)

HTML Entity for Alef Symbol (ℵ)

What You'll Learn

⚡ Quick Reference — Alef Symbol Entity

Complete HTML Example

🌐 Browser Support

👀 Live Preview

🧠 How It Works

Hexadecimal Code

Decimal HTML Code

Named Entity

CSS Entity (Escape)

Same visual result

Use Cases

💡 Best Practices

Do

Don’t

Key Takeaways

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

🧩 Related HTML Topics

Explore More HTML Entities!

About the author