What is the Unicode name and code point for this symbol?

U+2246 APPROXIMATELY BUT NOT ACTUALLY EQUAL TO, in the Mathematical Operators block (decimal 8774, hex 2246). The glyph is often described informally as approximate inequality.

When should I use U+2246 instead of almost equal (U+2248) or approximately equal (U+2245)?

Use U+2246 when your notation standard explicitly means values are close in an approximate sense yet not equal. U+2248 is ALMOST EQUAL TO; U+2245 is APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO; they are different relations from U+2246.

What is the difference between HTML numeric references and a CSS escape for U+2246?

Markup uses ampersand-hash forms in HTML text. CSS uses a backslash hex escape inside rules such as content on pseudo-elements. Same code point; different syntax layer.

HTML Entity for Approximately But Not Actually Equal To (≆)

Q: How do I display approximately but not actually equal to (U+2246) in HTML?

Use numeric references: hexadecimal x2246 or decimal 8774, or a CSS escape such as backslash 2246 in the content property. HTML5 does not define a standard named character reference for U+2246.

Q: Is there a named HTML entity for U+2246?

No widely standardized HTML named entity is assigned to U+2246 in the WHATWG named character reference list. Use and hash x2246, and hash 8774, or plain UTF-8.

Beginner

⏱️ 5 min read

📚 Updated: May 2026

🎯 1 Code Example

Unicode U+2246

HTML Entity for approximately but not actually equal to (U+2246) tutorial illustration

What You'll Learn

How to display APPROXIMATELY BUT NOT ACTUALLY EQUAL TO (≆, U+2246) in HTML. This relation sign expresses that two values are close in an approximate sense yet not equal—distinct from “almost equal” (U+2248) or “approximately equal” (U+2245) in formal mathematical notation.

There is no standard named HTML entity for this code point, so you use ≆, ≆, or \2246 in CSS content. The page URL keeps the legacy spelling actuall for existing links; all titles and prose here use actually.

⚡ Quick Reference — Approximately But Not Actually Equal To

Unicode U+2246

Mathematical Operators

Hex Code ≆

Hexadecimal reference

HTML Code ≆

Decimal reference

Named Entity —

Use numeric or UTF-8

CSS Code \2246

Use in CSS content

Reference Table

Name           Value
────────────   ──────────
Unicode        U+2246
Hex code       &#x2246;
HTML code      &#8774;
Named entity   (none in HTML5 list)
CSS code       \2246

Complete HTML Example

This example shows U+2246 using hexadecimal code, decimal code, and a CSS content escape (no named entity):

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
 <style>
  #point:after{
   content: "\2246";
  }
 </style>
</head>
<body>

<p>Approximately But Not Actually Equal To using Hexa Decimal: &#x2246;</p>
<p>Approximately But Not Actually Equal To using HTML Code: &#8774;</p>
<p id="point">Approximately But Not Actually Equal To using CSS Entity: </p>

</body>
</html>

Try It Yourself

🌐 Browser Support

Numeric character references for U+2246 are supported in all modern browsers. Use fonts with solid Mathematical Operators coverage so the tilde and slash read clearly:

Chrome 1+

Firefox 1+

Safari 1+

Edge 12+

Opera 4+

Android 4.4+

iOS Safari 1+

👀 Live Preview

Short comparisons (notation is illustrative; use MathML or TeX for publication layout):

Isolated glyph ≆

Inline relation a ≆ b (read as “approximately but not actually equal” in your style guide).

Contrast U+2248 Almost equal ≈ is a different operator from U+2246 ≆.

Contrast U+2245 Approximately equal ≅ is not the same relation sign as ≆.

Monospace U+2246 APPROXIMATELY BUT NOT ACTUALLY EQUAL TO

🧠 How It Works

Hexadecimal code

≆ encodes Unicode code point 2246₁₆ in HTML text.

HTML markup

Decimal HTML code

≆ is the decimal form (8774₁₀ = 2246₁₆).

HTML markup

CSS escape

\2246 in content emits U+2246 from a stylesheet.

CSS stylesheet

Same visual result

All paths expose U+2246 — APPROXIMATELY BUT NOT ACTUALLY EQUAL TO. Prefer one numeric style per document for consistency.

✅

Use Cases

Use U+2246 when your manuscript or style guide calls for this specific relation (always define it in words for general audiences):

≋ Comparative math

Distinguish approximate closeness from exact equality in proofs, definitions, or worked examples.

📚 Academic writing

STEM papers and preprints that follow Unicode mathematical notation in HTML abstracts or supplements.

🔬 Educational HTML

Lesson pages that compare ≆, ≈, and ≅ side by side in a symbol legend.

📝 Equation toolbars

Editors that export portable numeric entities instead of images for simple formulas.

📐 Notation glossaries

Tables that map each glyph to its spoken description for readers and screen-reader text.

🧮 Technical specs

Documentation that mirrors ISO or publisher symbol lists in UTF-8 HTML.

♿ Accessibility

Pair the symbol with expanded text (“approximately but not actually equal to”) where meaning matters.

💡 Best Practices

Do

Stick to either hex or decimal numeric references throughout a document
Use math-capable font stacks for operator-heavy pages
Explain the relation in words on first use
Use \2246 only inside CSS content, not raw HTML text
For complex layout, add MathML or KaTeX/MathJax alongside entities

Don’t

Confuse U+2246 with U+2248 (almost equal) or U+2245 (approximately equal)
Assume every body font draws the slash and tilde legibly at small sizes
Use HTML entities inside JavaScript strings (use \u2246 there instead)
Rely on the bare glyph alone in assessments without a verbal definition

Key Takeaways

Numeric references for U+2246

≆ ≆

CSS content escape

\2246

Unicode U+2246 — APPROXIMATELY BUT NOT ACTUALLY EQUAL TO

No standard named entity in the HTML5 named character list

Mathematical Operators block — pair with plain language for accessibility

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How do I display approximately but not actually equal to (U+2246) in HTML?

Use ≆ (hex) or ≆ (decimal), or \2246 in CSS content. All render ≆.

What is the official Unicode name?

APPROXIMATELY BUT NOT ACTUALLY EQUAL TO at U+2246 (decimal 8774). Part of the Mathematical Operators block.

Is there a named HTML entity for U+2246?

No entry in the standard HTML named character references for this code point. Prefer numeric references or raw UTF-8.

How does U+2246 differ from U+2248?

U+2248 is ALMOST EQUAL TO (≈), widely used for informal “about equal.” U+2246 encodes a different relation in Unicode; follow your notation standard.

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

Markup uses ≆ or ≆ in HTML. CSS uses backslash hex escapes inside content rules. Same glyph, different syntax layer.

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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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Approaches the Limit (≐) Approximately Equal To (≅)