Character Tie (⁀) is the Unicode character at U+2040 in the General Punctuation block (official name: CHARACTER TIE). It is a punctuation connector used in specialized typography and phonetic-style notation to show characters are tied together.
Remember
Character ⁀
Unicode U+2040
Hex entity ⁀
Decimal ⁀
CSS escape \2040
Named entity (none)
All of these produce the same glyph: ⁀. Prefer ordinary hyphens or spaces for everyday text; use ⁀ when you specifically need this tie mark.
Reference
Quick Reference
One table for every form you will actually use.
Form
Code
Where it goes
Direct character
⁀
HTML text (UTF-8)
Hex entity
⁀
HTML markup
Decimal entity
⁀
HTML markup
CSS escape
\2040
Stylesheet content
Named entity
—
Not defined in HTML5
When to use which
Situation
Use
Need the character tie glyph ⁀
Type ⁀, or ⁀ / ⁀
Generated text via ::before / ::after
content: "\2040"
Lower undertie mark
Use ‿ (U+203F)
Everyday joining of words
Use hyphen - or a space
Looking for &tie; or similar
Does not exist for U+2040 — use numeric form
See it
Live Preview
Character Tie rendered in common writing contexts.
Inline texta⁀b tied
Large glyph⁀
Compared⁀ ‿ -
Monospacemark ⁀ → character tie
With entitiesHex: ⁀ | Decimal: ⁀
Code
Complete HTML Example
One page that shows Character Tie with the hex entity, decimal entity, CSS escape, and a typed character. Use View Output or open the live editor.
Hex + Decimal + CSS + Typed
All four ways to produce ⁀ in a single document.
html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Character Tie (⁀) in HTML</title>
<style>
#point::after {
content: "\2040";
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Character Tie using Hex Code: ⁀</p>
<p>Character Tie using HTML Code: ⁀</p>
<p id="point">Character Tie using CSS Entity: </p>
<p>Typed directly: ⁀</p>
</body>
</html>
Character Tie using Hex Code: ⁀
Character Tie using HTML Code: ⁀
Character Tie using CSS Entity: ⁀
Typed directly: ⁀
How It Works
1. Hex:U+2040 → ⁀ in HTML. The browser turns it into ⁀.
2. Decimal: same code point as 8256 → ⁀. Same result as hex.
3. CSS: use \2040 in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that ⁀ after the paragraph text.
4. Typed ⁀: fine in UTF-8 pages. All four lines show the same glyph.
Pitfalls & Tips
Common mistakes when working with Character Tie entities.
Named?
No named entity
HTML5 does not define &tie; for U+2040. Use numeric forms.
CSS vs HTML
Do not mix escapes
\2040 belongs in CSS. ⁀ / ⁀ belong in HTML.
⁀ vs ‿
Different characters
⁀ is U+2040 (character tie). Undertie ‿ is U+203F.
Fonts
Check the glyph
General Punctuation coverage varies. If ⁀ is missing, explain the tie in nearby text.
Semicolon
End references
Always finish with ; — write ⁀, not ⁀.
Use
Specialized only
Most everyday pages do not need ⁀. Prefer a hyphen for normal word joining.
Compatibility
Browser Support
Character Tie (U+2040) and its numeric entity forms (⁀, ⁀, CSS \\2040) are supported in all mainstream browsers. Glyph shape depends on the font.
✓ Universal support
Character Tie (⁀)
Encode with hex, decimal, or CSS escape — or paste ⁀ in UTF-8 HTML.
100%Browser coverage
Google ChromeSupported
Yes
Microsoft EdgeSupported
Yes
Mozilla FirefoxSupported
Yes
Apple SafariSupported
Yes
OperaSupported
Yes
Internet ExplorerAll versions
Yes
U+2040 / entitiesFull support
Bottom line: Use ⁀ or ⁀ for the Unicode glyph, and \\2040 only inside CSS content. Prefer - for ordinary joining.
Remember
Key Takeaways
Unicode: character tie is U+2040 (decimal 8256).
HTML: use ⁀ or ⁀ when you need an entity.
CSS: use \2040 inside content for generated text.
Watch out: ⁀ ≠ ‿ (character tie ≠ undertie).
One line:U+2040 → ⁀ / ⁀ / CSS \2040, or paste ⁀.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use ⁀ (hex), ⁀ (decimal), or the CSS escape \2040 in the content property. All render ⁀. You can also paste ⁀ directly when your file is UTF-8.
U+2040 (hex 2040, decimal 8256). Unicode names it CHARACTER TIE. It belongs to the General Punctuation block.
No. HTML5 does not define a named entity for ⁀. Use numeric references like ⁀ or ⁀.
⁀ (U+2040) is character tie (above-style connector). ‿ (U+203F) is undertie — a related but different punctuation mark that sits lower.
HTML entities (⁀ or ⁀) go in markup. The CSS escape \2040 is used in stylesheets (usually in the content property of ::before/::after). Both render ⁀.
Use it in specialized typography, phonetic notation, or when you need this exact tie glyph. Prefer ordinary hyphens or spaces for everyday text.
🤔
Did you know?
Character tie is Unicode U+2040 (decimal 8256) — official name CHARACTER TIE in the General Punctuation block. HTML5 has no named entity. It is a punctuation connector and is not undertie (U+203F ‿).
