HTML Entity for Delta Equal To (≜)

Beginner
⏱️ 5 min read
📚 Updated: Jun 2026
🎯 1 Code Example
Unicode U+225C
HTML entity for Delta Equal To symbol (U+225C) tutorial illustration

What You'll Learn

How to display the Delta Equal To symbol (≜) in HTML using named, hexadecimal, decimal, and CSS entity methods. Also called triangle equal, this character is U+225C in the Mathematical Operators block (U+2200–U+22FF) and means equal by definition or is defined as in mathematics, logic, and formal specifications.

This character can be rendered with the named entity ≜, hexadecimal ≜, decimal ≜, or CSS escape \225C in the content property. Do not confuse with XOR (⊻) or the Greek letter Delta (Δ).

⚡ Quick Reference — Delta Equal To

Unicode U+225C

Mathematical Operators block

Hex Code ≜

Hexadecimal reference

HTML Code ≜

Decimal reference

Named Entity ≜

Triangle equal (most readable)

Reference Table
Name           Value
────────────   ──────────
Unicode        U+225C
Hex code       ≜
HTML code      ≜
Named entity   ≜
CSS code       \225C
1

Complete HTML Example

This example demonstrates the Delta Equal To symbol (≜) using hexadecimal code, decimal HTML code, the named entity, and a CSS content escape on a pseudo-element:

html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
 <style>
  #point:after{
   content: "\225C";
  }
 </style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Delta Equal To using Hexadecimal: &#x225C;</p>
<p>Delta Equal To using HTML Code: &#8796;</p>
<p>Delta Equal To using HTML Entity: &trie;</p>
<p id="point">Delta Equal To using CSS Entity: </p>
</body>
</html>
Try it Yourself

🌐 Browser Support

The Delta Equal To entity is supported in all modern browsers; use a font with Mathematical Operators coverage for best display:

Chrome 1+
Firefox 1+
Safari 1+
Edge 12+
Opera 4+
Android 4.4+
iOS Safari 3.2+

👀 Live Preview

See the Delta Equal To symbol (≜) in mathematical and formal contexts:

Definition n ≜ 10
Function f(x) ≜ x2
vs equals a ≜ b   a = b (different meaning)
Large glyph ≜
Monospace refs &trie; &#x225C; &#8796; \225C

🧠 How It Works

1

Named HTML Entity

&trie; is the semantic named entity for Delta Equal To (triangle equal)—the easiest to read in source HTML.

HTML markup
2

Hexadecimal Code

&#x225C; uses the Unicode hexadecimal value 225C. The x prefix indicates hexadecimal format.

HTML markup
3

Decimal HTML Code

&#8796; uses the decimal Unicode value 8796 to display the same character.

HTML markup
4

CSS Entity

\225C is used in CSS stylesheets, particularly in the content property of ::before and ::after.

CSS stylesheet
=

Same visual result

All four methods produce the Delta Equal To symbol: ≜. Unicode U+225C is in Mathematical Operators (U+2200–U+22FF).

✅

Use Cases

The Delta Equal To symbol (≜) is commonly used in:

📐 Definitions

Equal by definition in equations (e.g. f(x) ≜ x2, n ≜ 10).

🧮 Logic & types

Formal logic, type theory, and programming language semantics.

📄 Specifications

Engineering docs, standards, and formal notation guides.

📚 Academic

Papers, theses, and textbooks in math and computer science.

💻 Documentation

API docs, algorithms, and tutorials that introduce definitions with ≜.

🔤 Symbol references

Unicode tables and HTML entity guides for math operators.

💡 Best Practices

Do

  • Use &trie; for readable definitional equality
  • Choose math-friendly fonts (Cambria Math, STIX Two Math)
  • Reserve ≜ for “defined as,” not ordinary equality (=)
  • Use \225C only inside CSS content
  • Pick one entity style per project

Don’t

  • Confuse ≜ with = (equals) or ≡ (identical to)
  • Confuse with Greek Delta Δ or XOR ⊻
  • Rely on fonts that omit Mathematical Operators
  • Put CSS escape \225C in HTML text nodes
  • Mix entity styles randomly in one file

Key Takeaways

1

Four ways to render ≜ in HTML

&trie; &#x225C; &#8796;
2

For CSS stylesheets, use the escape in the content property

\225C
3

U+225C means equal by definition (triangle equal)

4

Prefer &trie; for readability in math-heavy markup

5

Mathematical Operators block—widely supported in modern browsers

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Use &trie; (named), &#x225C; (hex), &#8796; (decimal), or \225C in CSS content. All produce ≜.
U+225C (DELTA EQUAL TO). Mathematical Operators block. Hex 225C, decimal 8796. Denotes equal by definition in mathematics and logic.
In mathematical and logical notation for definitions (e.g. x ≜ 5), formal specifications, type theory, and engineering documentation that use the triangle-equal symbol.
HTML entities (&trie;, &#8796;, or &#x225C;) go in markup. The CSS escape \225C is used in stylesheets, typically in the content property of pseudo-elements. Same visual result, different layers.
It means “equal by definition” or “is defined as.” The left-hand side is defined to equal the right-hand side (e.g. f(x) ≜ x2). It is not the same as ordinary equality (=).

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About the author

Mari Selvan M P
Mari Selvan M P 🔗

Developer, cloud engineer, and technical writer

  • Experience 12 years building web and cloud systems
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I write practical tutorials so students and working developers can learn by doing—from databases and APIs to deployment on AWS.

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