HTML Entity for Cloud (☁)

Beginner

5 min read

Updated: Sep 2026

1 example

Unicode U+2601

HTML Entity for Cloud (☁) tutorial illustration

Definition

What Is the Cloud Entity?

Cloud (☁) is the Unicode character at U+2601 in the Miscellaneous Symbols block (official name: CLOUD). It is a simple weather / nature glyph used in forecasts, status labels, and light UI metaphors.

Remember

Character     ☁
Unicode       U+2601
Hex entity    &#x2601;
Decimal       &#9729;
Named entity  (none)
CSS escape    \2601

All of these produce the same glyph: ☁. Prefer a typed ☁ or hex ☁ in hand-written HTML; use decimal when generating numeric-only markup.

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	`\2601`	Stylesheet `content`
Named entity	none	Use hex or decimal instead

When to Use Which

Situation	Use
Hand-written HTML	Type `☁` or use `☁`
Generated / numeric-only markup	`☁` or `☁`
Generated text via `::before` / `::after`	`content: "\2601"`
Sunny weather symbol	☀ U+2600
Polished app icons	Prefer SVG or an icon set over the Unicode glyph alone

See it

Live Preview

Cloud rendered in common writing contexts.

Inline text ☁ Partly cloudy

Large glyph ☁

Compared ☁ ☀

Monospace sky: ☁ overcast

With entities Hex: ☁ | Decimal: ☁

Code

Complete HTML Example

One page that shows Cloud with the hex entity, decimal entity, CSS escape, and a typed character. Use View Output or open the live editor.

Hex + Decimal + CSS + Typed

Four ways to produce ☁ in a single document.

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Cloud (☁) in HTML</title>
  <style>
    #point::after {
      content: "\2601";
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <p>Cloud using Hex Code: &#x2601;</p>
  <p>Cloud using HTML Code: &#9729;</p>
  <p id="point">Cloud using CSS Entity: </p>
  <p>Typed directly: ☁</p>
</body>
</html>

Try It Yourself

How It Works

1. Hex: U+2601 → ☁ in HTML. The browser turns it into ☁.

2. Decimal: same code point as 9729 → ☁. Same result as hex.

3. CSS: use \2601 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 Cloud entities.

Named?

No named entity

HTML5 does not define a named reference for U+2601. Use ☁ or ☁.

CSS vs HTML

Do not mix escapes

\2601 belongs in CSS. ☁ / ☁ belong in HTML.

☁ vs ☀

Different characters

☁ is U+2601. Sun ☀ is U+2600.

A11y

Do not rely on the glyph alone

Pair ☁ with text (or an accessible name) so screen-reader users get the same meaning — e.g. “Cloudy”.

Semicolon

End references

Always finish with ; — write ☁, not &#9729.

Icons

Glyph vs SVG

For weather apps and branded UIs, an SVG cloud icon is usually clearer than the Unicode character alone.

Compatibility

Browser Support

Cloud (U+2601) and its entity forms (☁, ☁, CSS \\2601) are supported in all mainstream browsers that handle Unicode. Glyph availability depends on fonts.

✓ Universal support

Cloud (☁)

Type ☁, or encode with hex, decimal, or CSS escape — same glyph everywhere encoding and fonts support it.

100% Browser coverage

Google Chrome Supported

Yes

Microsoft Edge Supported

Yes

Mozilla Firefox Supported

Yes

Apple Safari Supported

Yes

Opera Supported

Yes

Internet Explorer All versions

Yes

U+2601 / entities Full support

Bottom line: Prefer ☁ or a typed ☁ for simple cloud labels. Use decimal when generating markup, and \\2601 only inside CSS content.

Remember

Key Takeaways

Unicode: cloud is U+2601 (decimal 9729).
HTML: use ☁ or ☁ (no named entity).
CSS: use \2601 inside content for generated text.
Watch out: ☁ ≠ ☀ (cloud ≠ sun).

One line: U+2601 → ☁ / ☁ / CSS \2601.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I display cloud (☁) in HTML?

Use ☁ (hex), ☁ (decimal), or the CSS escape \2601 in the content property. All render ☁. You can also paste ☁ directly when your file is UTF-8. There is no named HTML entity.

What is the Unicode value for cloud?

U+2601 (hex 2601, decimal 9729). Unicode names it CLOUD. It belongs to the Miscellaneous Symbols block.

Is there a named HTML entity for ☁?

No. HTML5 does not define a named entity for ☁. Use numeric references like ☁ or ☁.

When should I use ☁?

Use it for weather labels, forecasts, or simple cloud metaphors in text. Prefer SVG or icon fonts when you need color, size control, or animation.

What is the difference between HTML code and CSS entity for U+2601?

HTML entities (☁ or ☁) go in markup. The CSS escape \2601 goes in stylesheet strings (usually content on ::before/::after).

How is ☁ different from ☀?

☁ (U+2601) is CLOUD. ☀ (U+2600) is BLACK SUN WITH RAYS — a different weather symbol with its own code point.

Did you know?

Cloud is Unicode U+2601 (decimal 9729) — official name CLOUD in the Miscellaneous Symbols block. HTML5 has no named entity. It is a weather / nature symbol and is not the sun (U+2600 ☀).

Next: Coffin

Learn the HTML entity for coffin (U+26B0).

Coffin tutorial →

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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