Information Source (ℹ) is the Letterlike Symbols character at Unicode U+2139 (INFORMATION SOURCE). It signals help content, tooltips, or a source reference — often used as an info icon in UI.
Remember
Character ℹ
Unicode U+2139
Hex entity ℹ
Decimal ℹ
CSS escape \2139
Named entity (none)
All of these produce the same glyph: ℹ. Prefer typing ℹ in UTF-8 page text; use entities for CSS content, generated markup, or when encoding must be explicit.
Reference
Quick Reference
One table for every form you will actually use.
Form
Code
Where it goes
Direct character
ℹ
UTF-8 HTML text (default choice)
Hex entity
ℹ
HTML markup
Decimal entity
ℹ
HTML markup
CSS escape
\2139
Stylesheet content
Named entity
—
Not defined in HTML5
When to Use Which
Situation
Use
Info labels on a UTF-8 page
Type ℹ
Need an entity in HTML source
ℹ or ℹ
Generated text via ::before / ::after
content: "\2139"
Looking for a named &...; form
Does not exist — use numeric form
Accessible “more info” control
Pair the glyph with clear text or aria-label
See it
Live Preview
Information Source rendered in common UI contexts.
Help textℹ Additional details are in the help panel.
Large glyphℹ
Form hintPassword ℹ (at least 12 characters)
CitationSource ℹ — see footnote 3
With entitiesHex: ℹ | Decimal: ℹ
Code
Complete HTML Example
One page that shows Information Source 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 ℹ in a single document.
html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Information Source (ℹ) in HTML</title>
<style>
#point::after {
content: "\2139";
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Info using Hex Code: ℹ</p>
<p>Info using HTML Code: ℹ</p>
<p id="point">Info using CSS Entity: </p>
<p>Typed directly: ℹ</p>
</body>
</html>
Info using Hex Code: ℹ
Info using HTML Code: ℹ
Info using CSS Entity: ℹ
Typed directly: ℹ
How It Works
1. Hex:U+2139 → ℹ in HTML. The browser turns it into ℹ.
2. Decimal: same code point as 8505 → ℹ. Same result as hex.
3. CSS: use \2139 in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that ℹ after the paragraph text.
4. Typed ℹ: best for normal UTF-8 text. All four lines show the same symbol.
Pitfalls & Tips
Common mistakes when working with the Information Source symbol.
Named?
No named entity
HTML5 does not define a named entity for U+2139. Use numeric forms.
CSS vs HTML
Do not mix escapes
\2139 belongs in CSS. ℹ / ℹ belong in HTML.
A11y
Do not rely on the glyph alone
Add visible text or an accessible name so screen reader users know what “info” means.
Default
Type ℹ when you can
Entities are for encoding needs — not required for ordinary UTF-8 body text.
Semicolon
End references
Always finish with ; — write ℹ, not ℹ.
Fonts
Letterlike Symbols support
Use fonts that include U+2139. Appearance can vary — some fonts draw a circled “i”, others a plain letterlike form.
Compatibility
Browser Support
Information Source (U+2139) and its numeric entity forms (ℹ, ℹ, CSS \\2139) are supported in all mainstream browsers when the font includes Letterlike Symbols.
✓ Universal support
Information Source (ℹ)
Type ℹ, or encode with hex, decimal, or CSS escape — same character everywhere fonts support it.
100%Browser coverage
Google ChromeSupported
Yes
Microsoft EdgeSupported
Yes
Mozilla FirefoxSupported
Yes
Apple SafariSupported
Yes
OperaSupported
Yes
Internet ExplorerAll versions
Yes
U+2139 / entitiesFull support
Bottom line: Use a typed ℹ for normal text. Prefer ℹ or ℹ in HTML when encoding must be explicit, and \\2139 only inside CSS content.
Remember
Key Takeaways
Unicode: Information Source is U+2139 (decimal 8505).
HTML: use ℹ or ℹ when you need an entity.
CSS: use \2139 inside content for generated text.
Default: type ℹ directly unless encoding requires an entity.
One line:U+2139 → type ℹ, or encode as ℹ / ℹ / CSS \2139.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use ℹ (hex), ℹ (decimal), or the CSS escape \2139 in the content property. All render ℹ. There is no named HTML entity.
U+2139 (INFORMATION SOURCE). Hex 2139, decimal 8505. It belongs to the Letterlike Symbols block.
No. HTML5 does not define a named entity for U+2139. Use numeric references like ℹ or ℹ when you need an entity form.
Use it for info icons, tooltips, form hints, help text, citations, and “more information” cues in UI and docs. Prefer numeric entities when encoding must be explicit; type ℹ directly in UTF-8 pages when convenient.
HTML entities (ℹ or ℹ) go in markup. The CSS escape \2139 is used in stylesheets (usually in the content property of ::before/::after). Both render ℹ.
U+2139 is a letterlike symbol. Emoji-style info icons may use the same base character with a variation selector, or a different pictograph — do not assume identical appearance across fonts.
🤔
Did you know?
Information Source is Unicode U+2139 (decimal 8505). HTML5 has no named entity for it — use ℹ or ℹ when you need an entity form. It is widely used as an info icon in UI.
