HTML Entity for Lesser Than (<)

Q: How do I display lesser than (<) in HTML?

Always use < (named). You can also use < (hex), < (decimal), or the CSS escape \003C in content. Never type a raw < in HTML text — the browser treats it as the start of a tag.

Q: What is the Unicode value for lesser than?

U+003C (LESS-THAN SIGN). Hex 3C, decimal 60. It belongs to Basic Latin (ASCII). It is the same code point as Less Than.

Q: Is there a named HTML entity for lesser than?

Yes. HTML5 defines < (and &LT;) for U+003C. Prefer < whenever you show the symbol as text.

Q: When should I use < instead of typing <?

Always in HTML body text, attributes, and examples. A bare < starts a tag and will break your page or hide following content.

Q: What is the difference between HTML code and CSS entity for <?

HTML entities (<, <, or <) go in markup. The CSS escape \003C goes in stylesheet strings (usually content on ::before/::after).

Q: Is lesser than different from less than?

No. Both names refer to U+003C. This page uses the common alternate name “lesser than”; the character and entities are identical to Less Than.

Beginner

5 min read

Updated: Sep 2026

1 example

Unicode U+003C

HTML Entity for lesser than (<) tutorial illustration

Definition

What Is Lesser Than?

Lesser than (<) is the Unicode character at U+003C in Basic Latin. Official name: LESS-THAN SIGN. It is the same character as Less Than — a reserved markup character that you must escape in HTML text.

Remember

Character     <
Unicode       U+003C
Named entity  &lt;
Hex entity    &#x3C;
Decimal       &#60;
CSS escape    \003C
Meaning       lesser-than / comparison
Not the same  &gt; (>) · &le; (≤) · &nlt; (≮)

Prefer < in HTML. Alternatives: < or <. Do not type a raw < in HTML body text.

Reference

Quick Reference

One table for every form you will actually use.

Form	Code	Where it goes
Named entity	`<`	HTML markup (required for text)
Hex entity	`<`	HTML markup
Decimal entity	`<`	HTML markup
Direct character	`<`	Unsafe in HTML text — starts a tag
CSS escape	`\003C`	Stylesheet `content`

When to Use Which

Situation	Use
Show < as visible text / comparison	`<`
Greater-than comparison pair	`<` with `>`
Less than or equal (≤)	Less than or equal to
Generated text via `::before` / `::after`	`content: "\003C"`
Unescaped < in HTML text	Never — that starts an HTML tag

See it

Live Preview

Symbol alone, in a sample, and next to related forms.

Glyph <

Large glyph <

Sample Age: 12 < 18 Range: a < b

Compared < > ≤ ≥

With entities Named: < | Hex: < | Decimal: <

Code

Complete HTML Example

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

Named + Hex + Decimal + CSS

Four safe ways to display < in HTML and CSS.

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Lesser Than (U+003C) in HTML</title>
  <style>
    #point::after {
      content: "\003C";
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <p>Built with Named: &lt;</p>
  <p>Built with Hex: &#x3C;</p>
  <p>Built with Decimal: &#60;</p>
  <p id="point">Built with CSS: </p>
  <p>Sample: age 12 &lt; 18</p>
  <p>Pair: &lt; and &gt;</p>
</body>
</html>

Try It Yourself

How It Works

1. Named: < is the HTML5 name for U+003C → <. Prefer this always in HTML text.

2. Hex: < inserts the same code point. Same visual as named.

3. Decimal: same code point as 60 → <.

4. CSS: use \003C in content (not an HTML entity). Prefer four hex digits so the escape does not swallow the next character.

5. Safety: never write a raw < in HTML text — it starts a tag. Pair with > for greater-than.

Pitfalls & Tips

Common mistakes when working with lesser than.

Escape

Always use `<` for text

A raw < starts an HTML tag. Content after it can disappear or break the page.

Same char

Same as Less Than

“Lesser than” and “less than” are the same Unicode character (U+003C). Entities and behavior are identical.

Not the same as markup

<div> is a tag. Showing the symbol alone needs < so it stays text.

Pair

Learn with `>`

Comparisons usually need both sides. Escape < as < and > as >.

Math

Not the same as ≤

Less-than-or-equal is a different character. Use the correct entity when you need ≤ or ≥.

CSS

Pad the CSS escape

Prefer \003C. A short \3C can swallow the next hex digit if one follows immediately.

Semicolon

End references

Always finish entities with ; — write <, not &lt.

Compatibility

Browser Support

Lesser than (U+003C) and its entity forms (<, <, <, CSS \\003C) are supported in all mainstream browsers as a Basic Latin character.

✓ Universal support

Lesser Than (<)

Encode with named, hex, decimal, or CSS escape — always escape in HTML text so < is never treated as a tag.

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+003C Full support

Bottom line: Prefer < in HTML. Use < / < when numeric form is required, and \\003C only inside CSS content.

Remember

Key Takeaways

Unicode: lesser than is U+003C (decimal 60) — glyph <.
HTML: always prefer < — also < / <.
CSS: use \003C inside content for generated text.
Safety: never type raw < in HTML text — it starts a tag.

One line: U+003C → < / < / < / CSS \003C.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I display lesser than (<) in HTML?

Always use < (named). You can also use < (hex), < (decimal), or the CSS escape \003C in content. Never type a raw < in HTML text — the browser treats it as the start of a tag.

What is the Unicode value for lesser than?

U+003C (LESS-THAN SIGN). Hex 3C, decimal 60. It belongs to Basic Latin (ASCII). It is the same code point as Less Than.

Is there a named HTML entity for lesser than?

Yes. HTML5 defines < (and &LT;) for U+003C. Prefer < whenever you show the symbol as text.

When should I use < instead of typing <?

Always in HTML body text, attributes, and examples. A bare < starts a tag and will break your page or hide following content.

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

HTML entities (<, <, or <) go in markup. The CSS escape \003C goes in stylesheet strings (usually content on ::before/::after).

Is lesser than different from less than?

No. Both names refer to U+003C. This page uses the common alternate name “lesser than”; the character and entities are identical to Less Than.

Did you know?

Lesser than is Unicode U+003C (decimal 60) — glyph < (LESS-THAN SIGN) in Basic Latin. It is the same character as Less Than. HTML5 named entity: < (also &LT;). Always prefer < in HTML text — a raw < starts a tag. Pair with > for comparisons.

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Mari Selvan M P 🔗

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