Double-struck italic small d (ⅆ) is the Unicode character at U+2146 in the Letterlike Symbols block. Official name: DOUBLE-STRUCK ITALIC SMALL D. It is used in mathematics as a differential operator (e.g. ⅆx).
Remember
Character ⅆ
Unicode U+2146
Named entity ⅆ
Hex entity ⅆ
Decimal ⅆ
CSS escape \2146
Not the same ⅅ (ⅅ) · d · ∂
Prefer ⅆ in HTML markup (also aliased as ⅆ). You can also type ⅆ in UTF-8, or use numeric forms when needed.
Double-struck italic small d rendered alone and in a simple math use.
Exampleⅆx
Large glyphⅆ
Comparedⅆ ⅅ d ∂
With entitiesNamed: ⅆ | Hex: ⅆ | Decimal: ⅆ
Code
Complete HTML Example
One page that shows Double Struck Italic Small D with named, hex, decimal, CSS escape, and a typed character. Use View Output or open the live editor.
Named + Hex + Decimal + CSS + Typed
Five ways to produce ⅆ, plus a comparison with the capital form ⅅ.
html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Double Struck Italic Small D (ⅆ) in HTML</title>
<style>
#point::after {
content: "\2146";
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Small d using Named Entity: ⅆ</p>
<p>Small d using Hex Code: ⅆ</p>
<p>Small d using HTML Code: ⅆ</p>
<p id="point">Small d using CSS Entity: </p>
<p>Typed directly: ⅆ</p>
<p>Differential: ⅅf / ⅆx</p>
</body>
</html>
Small d using Named Entity: ⅆ
Small d using Hex Code: ⅆ
Small d using HTML Code: ⅆ
Small d using CSS Entity: ⅆ
Typed directly: ⅆ
Differential: ⅅf / ⅆx
How It Works
1. Named:ⅆ is the HTML5 name for U+2146 → ⅆ. Best default in markup (also ⅆ).
2. Hex:U+2146 → ⅆ in HTML. Same glyph as the named form.
3. Decimal: same code point as 8518 → ⅆ. Same result as hex and named.
4. CSS: use \2146 in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that ⅆ after the paragraph text.
5. Typed / uses: paste ⅆ in UTF-8, or write ⅅf / ⅆx to contrast capital and small differentials.
Pitfalls & Tips
Common mistakes when working with Double Struck Italic Small D.
Case
Lowercase dd matters
ⅆ is small ⅆ (U+2146). ⅅ is capital ⅅ (U+2145). The names are case-sensitive.
d
Not a styled letter d
Italic or bold CSS on ordinary d (U+0064) is not the same code point as ⅆ. Use the Letterlike Symbol when you need the differential glyph.
ⅅ
Pair with capital DD
For expressions like ⅅf / ⅆx, use ⅅ for the capital operator and ⅆ for the small differential.
Alias
Longer name works too
ⅆ is an HTML5 alias for the same character as ⅆ. Prefer the short form in everyday markup.
CSS vs HTML
Do not mix escapes
\2146 belongs in CSS strings. ⅆ / ⅆ / ⅆ belong in HTML.
Fonts
Math font coverage
Some fonts omit Letterlike Symbols. Prefer a math-capable font for reliable display of ⅆ.
Semicolon
End named entities
Always finish with ; — write ⅆ, not &dd.
Compatibility
Browser Support
Double-struck italic small d (U+2146) and its entity forms (ⅆ, ⅆ, ⅆ, CSS \\2146) are supported in all mainstream browsers. Visible glyphs depend on math / Letterlike Symbols font coverage.
✓ Universal support
Double Struck Italic Small D (ⅆ)
Encode with named, hex, decimal, CSS escape, or type the character — same code point everywhere encoding is supported.
100%Browser coverage
Google ChromeSupported
Yes
Microsoft EdgeSupported
Yes
Mozilla FirefoxSupported
Yes
Apple SafariSupported
Yes
OperaSupported
Yes
Internet ExplorerAll versions
Yes
U+2146 / entitiesFull support
Bottom line: Prefer ⅆ in HTML. Use ⅆ / ⅆ when numeric form is required, and \\2146 only inside CSS content.
Remember
Key Takeaways
Unicode: double-struck italic small d is U+2146 (decimal 8518) — glyph ⅆ.
HTML: prefer ⅆ — also ⅆ / ⅆ / type ⅆ.
CSS: use \2146 inside content for generated text.
Meaning:ⅆ = small differential d — not ⅅ, not a styled letter d.
Use ⅆ (named), ⅆ (hex), ⅆ (decimal), type ⅆ directly in UTF-8, or the CSS escape \2146 in content. Prefer ⅆ in normal HTML.
U+2146 (DOUBLE-STRUCK ITALIC SMALL D). Hex 2146, decimal 8518. It belongs to the Letterlike Symbols block (U+2100–U+214F).
Yes. Use ⅆ (or the longer alias ⅆ). Numeric forms ⅆ and ⅆ also work. Do not use ⅅ — that is the capital form U+2145.
Use it in mathematical or scientific text for the small differential / double-struck italic d (e.g. ⅆx). Prefer ⅅ for the capital differential D (U+2145).
HTML entities (ⅆ, ⅆ, or ⅆ) go in markup. The CSS escape \2146 goes in stylesheet strings (usually content on ::before/::after).
No. ⅆ is ⅆ (U+2146). ⅅ is ⅅ (U+2145). A styled CSS italic d is still the ordinary letter U+0064 — not this Letterlike Symbol.
🤔
Did you know?
Double-struck italic small d is Unicode U+2146 (decimal 8518) — glyph ⅆ in the Letterlike Symbols block. HTML5 names it ⅆ (also ⅆ). Common use: differential operator in math (e.g. ⅆx). The capital form is ⅅ (U+2145).
