HTML Entity for Inverted S (∾)

Beginner

6 min read

Updated: Sep 2026

1 example

Unicode U+223E

HTML Entity for Inverted S (∾) tutorial illustration

Definition

What Is the Inverted S Entity?

Inverted S (∾) is the Mathematical Operators character at Unicode U+223E (INVERTED LAZY S). It appears in math notation and is sometimes used for alternating current (AC).

Remember

Character     ∾
Unicode       U+223E
Hex entity    &#x223E;
Decimal       &#8766;
Named entity  &ac;
CSS escape    \223E

All of these produce the same glyph: ∾. Prefer &ac; in HTML source for clarity; use hex/decimal when generating entities, and CSS \223E only in content.

Reference

Quick Reference

One table for every form you will actually use.

Form	Code	Where it goes
Named entity	`&ac;`	HTML markup (best default)
Hex entity	`∾`	HTML markup
Decimal entity	`∾`	HTML markup
CSS escape	`\223E`	Stylesheet `content`
Direct character	`∾`	UTF-8 HTML text

When to Use Which

Situation	Use
Readable math / AC HTML source	`&ac;`
Need a numeric entity in HTML	`∾` or `∾`
Generated text via `::before` / `::after`	`content: "\223E"`
UTF-8 page, typing is easy	Type `∾` directly
Need context for readers	Add a short label (e.g. “AC” or “operator”) near the symbol

See it

Live Preview

Inverted S in math and technical contexts.

Operator Inverted lazy S: ∾

Large glyph ∾

AC notation Alternating current: ∾ (AC)

Named entity &ac; → ∾

With entities Hex: ∾ | Decimal: ∾ | Named: ∾

Code

Complete HTML Example

One page that shows Inverted S with hex, decimal, named, and CSS. Use View Output or open the live editor.

Hex + Decimal + Named + CSS

All four ways to produce ∾ in a single document.

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Inverted S (∾) in HTML</title>
  <style>
    #point::after {
      content: "\223E";
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <p>Using Hex Code: &#x223E;</p>
  <p>Using HTML Code: &#8766;</p>
  <p>Using Named Entity: &ac;</p>
  <p id="point">Using CSS Entity: </p>
  <p>Example: AC &ac;</p>
</body>
</html>

Try It Yourself

How It Works

1. Hex: U+223E → ∾ in HTML. The browser turns it into ∾.

2. Decimal: same code point as 8766 → ∾. Same result as hex.

3. Named: &ac; is the HTML5 name for this character — easiest to read in source.

4. CSS: use \223E in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that ∾ after the paragraph text.

Pitfalls & Tips

Common mistakes when working with the Inverted S symbol.

Named

Prefer &ac;

Named form is clearer than numeric codes in hand-written HTML.

CSS vs HTML

Do not mix escapes

\223E belongs in CSS. &ac; / ∾ / ∾ belong in HTML.

Meaning

Add brief context

Readers may not know ∾ — label math use or AC when the symbol stands alone.

Fonts

Math Operators support

Use fonts that include U+223E so the glyph is not missing.

Semicolon

End references

Always finish with ; — write &ac;, not &ac.

Default

Type ∾ when you can

On UTF-8 pages you may type ∾ directly; entities help when encoding must be explicit.

Compatibility

Browser Support

Inverted S (U+223E) and its entity forms (&ac;, ∾, ∾, CSS \\223E) are supported in all mainstream browsers.

✓ Universal support

Inverted S (∾)

Use &ac;, or encode with hex, decimal, or CSS escape — same glyph everywhere.

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+223E / entities Full support

Bottom line: Prefer &ac; in HTML for readability. Use ∾ or ∾ when encoding must be numeric, and \\223E only inside CSS content.

Remember

Key Takeaways

Unicode: inverted lazy S is U+223E (decimal 8766).
HTML: prefer &ac;, or use ∾ / ∾.
CSS: use \223E inside content for generated text.
Use: math notation and occasional AC (alternating current) labels.

One line: U+223E → &ac; / ∾ / ∾ / CSS \223E.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I display the Inverted S (∾) in HTML using entities?

Use &ac; (named), ∾ (hex), ∾ (decimal), or the CSS escape \223E in the content property. All render ∾.

What is the Unicode value for Inverted S?

U+223E (INVERTED LAZY S). Hex 223E, decimal 8766. It belongs to the Mathematical Operators block.

Is there a named HTML entity for ∾?

Yes. &ac; is the named HTML5 entity for ∾ and is supported in all modern browsers.

When should I use the Inverted S HTML entity?

Use it in mathematical notation and sometimes for alternating current (AC) in electrical docs. Prefer &ac; for readable source.

What is the difference between HTML code and CSS entity for ∾?

HTML entities (&ac;, ∾, or ∾) go in markup. The CSS escape \223E is used in stylesheets (usually in the content property of ::before/::after). Both render ∾.

Why is the named entity called &ac;?

&ac; stands for the inverted lazy S character; in electrical contexts it is often associated with alternating current (AC). The Unicode name is INVERTED LAZY S.

Did you know?

Inverted S is Unicode U+223E (decimal 8766) — INVERTED LAZY S. HTML5 provides the named entity &ac; — prefer it for readable math or AC notation, or use ∾ / ∾.

Next: Iota

Learn the HTML entity for Latin Small Letter Iota (U+0269) — next in this sequence.

Iota 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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