Lowercase y is the Basic Latin character at Unicode U+0079 (LATIN SMALL LETTER Y). You can type y directly in HTML, or write it with a numeric character reference when you need an explicit entity form.
Remember
Character y
Unicode U+0079
Hex entity y
Decimal y
CSS escape \0079
Named entity (none)
All of these produce the same glyph: y. Prefer typing y in normal 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
y
HTML text (default choice)
Hex entity
y
HTML markup
Decimal entity
y
HTML markup
CSS escape
\0079
Stylesheet content
Named entity
—
Not defined in HTML5
When to Use Which
Situation
Use
Normal paragraphs, headings, labels
Type y
Need an entity in HTML source
y or y
Generated text via ::before / ::after
content: "\0079"
Looking for &y; or similar
Does not exist — use numeric form
Y with acute (ý)
Different Unicode character — not U+0079
See it
Live Preview
Lowercase y rendered in common UI contexts.
Inline textThe letter y appears in words like year and yellow.
Large glyphy
Alphabetw x y z
Monospaceconst year = new Date().getFullYear();
With entitiesHex: y | Decimal: y
Not the sameY (U+0059) · ý (y acute)
Code
Complete HTML Example
One page that shows lowercase y 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 y in a single document.
html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Lowercase Y (y) in HTML</title>
<style>
#point::after {
content: "\0079";
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Lowercase Y using Hex Code: y</p>
<p>Lowercase Y using HTML Code: y</p>
<p id="point">Lowercase Y using CSS Entity: </p>
<p>Typed directly: y</p>
</body>
</html>
Lowercase Y using Hex Code: y
Lowercase Y using HTML Code: y
Lowercase Y using CSS Entity: y
Typed directly: y
How It Works
1. Hex:U+0079 → y in HTML. The browser turns it into y.
2. Decimal: same code point as 121 → y. Same result as hex.
3. CSS: use \0079 in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that y after the paragraph text.
4. Typed y: best for normal text. All four lines show the same letter.
Pitfalls & Tips
Common mistakes when working with the letter y entity.
Named
No &y;
HTML5 does not define a named entity for plain y. Use y or y.
Prefer typing
Type y in body text
Entities are optional for ASCII letters. Type y unless you need an explicit escape.
CSS vs HTML
Do not mix escapes
\0079 belongs in CSS. y / y belong in HTML.
Look-alikes
Not Y or ý
Uppercase is U+0059; y with acute is U+00FD (ý). Plain y is U+0079.
Case
y vs Y
Uppercase is U+0059 — a different code point from U+0079.
Semicolon
End references
Always finish with ; — write y, not y.
Compatibility
Browser Support
Lowercase y (U+0079) and its entity forms (y, y, CSS \\0079) are supported in all mainstream browsers.
✓ Universal support
Lowercase Y (y)
Type y, or encode with hex, decimal, or CSS escape — same glyph everywhere.
100%Browser coverage
Google ChromeSupported
Yes
Microsoft EdgeSupported
Yes
Mozilla FirefoxSupported
Yes
Apple SafariSupported
Yes
OperaSupported
Yes
Internet ExplorerAll versions
Yes
U+0079 / entitiesFull support
Bottom line: Prefer typing y in UTF-8 text. Use y / y when a numeric form is required, and \\0079 only inside CSS content.
Remember
Key Takeaways
Unicode: lowercase y is U+0079 (decimal 121), Basic Latin.
HTML: no named entity — type y, or use y / y.
CSS: use \0079 inside content for generated text.
Use: everyday Latin text — not the same as Y or ý.
One line:U+0079 → type y, or y / y / CSS \0079.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use y (hex), y (decimal), or the CSS escape \0079 in the content property. All render the letter y. In most cases you can also type y directly.
U+0079 (LATIN SMALL LETTER Y). Hex 79, decimal 121. It belongs to the Basic Latin (ASCII) block and is the 25th letter of the Latin alphabet.
No. ASCII letters like y do not have named HTML entities in HTML5, so you should use numeric references like y or y when you need an entity form.
Use entities when generating content in CSS, when you want explicit encoding, or when outputting into contexts where escaping is required. For normal body text, typing y directly is usually best.
HTML entities (y or y) go in markup. The CSS escape \0079 is used in stylesheets (usually in the content property of ::before/::after). Both render y.
Plain y is U+0079. Uppercase Y is U+0059. Latin small letter y with acute ý is U+00FD (ý) — a different letter used in Spanish, Czech, and other languages, not the same as plain y.
🤔
Did you know?
Lowercase y is Unicode U+0079 (decimal 121). HTML5 has no named entity for it — use y or y when you need an entity form. Do not confuse it with related forms like ý (y with acute).
