HTML Entity for Micro Sign (µ)
What You'll Learn
How to display the micro sign (µ) in HTML using hexadecimal, decimal, named entity, and CSS escape methods. This character is U+00B5 (MICRO SIGN) in the Latin-1 Supplement block—used for the micro prefix in units such as micrometers (µm) and in scientific and technical notation.
Render it with µ, µ, µ, or CSS escape \00B5. Do not confuse µ with Greek small letter mu μ (U+03BC) or the Mercury symbol ☿ (U+263F)—each has a distinct code point.
⚡ Quick Reference — Micro Sign
U+00B5Latin-1 Supplement
µHexadecimal reference
µDecimal reference
µMost readable option
Name Value
──────────── ──────────
Unicode U+00B5
Hex code µ
HTML code µ
Named entity µ
CSS code \00B5
Meaning Micro prefix (e.g. µm)
Related U+03BC = Greek mu (μ)
U+263F = Mercury (☿)Complete HTML Example
This example demonstrates the micro sign (µ) using hexadecimal code, decimal HTML code, the named entity, and a CSS content escape:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
#point::after{
content: "\00B5";
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Micro Sign using Hexadecimal: µ</p>
<p>Micro Sign using HTML Code: µ</p>
<p>Micro Sign using Named Entity: µ</p>
<p id="point">Micro Sign using CSS Entity: </p>
<p>Unit: 5 µm (micrometers)</p>
</body>
</html>🌐 Browser Support
The micro sign is universally supported in all modern browsers:
👀 Live Preview
See the micro sign (µ) in scientific and technical contexts:
🧠 How It Works
Hexadecimal Code
µ uses the Unicode hexadecimal value B5 to display the micro sign. The x prefix indicates hexadecimal format.
Decimal HTML Code
µ uses the decimal Unicode value 181 to display the same character.
CSS Entity
\00B5 is used in CSS stylesheets, particularly in the content property of pseudo-elements like ::before and ::after.
Named Entity
µ is the standard named HTML entity for the micro sign—easy to read and remember in source markup.
Same visual result
All four methods produce µ (µ). Unicode U+00B5 is in Latin-1 Supplement. Prefer µ for readable HTML source.
Use Cases
The micro sign (µ) is commonly used in:
Micrometer units (µm), micro prefix in formulas and lab reports.
Datasheets, tolerances, and component specifications.
Physics, chemistry, and biology coursework and tutorials.
API references, manuals, and developer documentation.
Charts, tables, and dashboards with micro-scale measurements.
HTML entity tutorials and Unicode symbol documentation.
💡 Best Practices
Do
- Prefer
µfor readable HTML source - Use
µorµwhen named entities are unavailable - Distinguish µ from Greek mu μ (U+03BC) per your style guide
- Serve pages with UTF-8 (
<meta charset="utf-8">) - Test glyph rendering across browsers and font stacks
Don’t
- Confuse µ with the Mercury symbol ☿ (U+263F)
- Put CSS escape
\00B5in HTML text nodes - Use HTML entities in JS (use
\u00B5) - Mix µ and μ randomly in the same document
- Use padded Unicode notation like U+000B5—the correct value is
U+00B5
Key Takeaways
Four HTML/CSS references all render µ
µ µ µFor CSS stylesheets, use \00B5 in the content property
Unicode U+00B5 — MICRO SIGN in Latin-1 Supplement
Prefer µ for readability in HTML source
Not the same as Greek mu μ (U+03BC) or Mercury ☿ (U+263F)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
µ (hex), µ (decimal), µ (named), or \00B5 in CSS content. All produce µ.U+00B5 (MICRO SIGN). Latin-1 Supplement block. Hex B5, decimal 181. Named HTML entity: µ.µ. μ is U+03BC (GREEK SMALL LETTER MU). They look similar but are different code points; SI contexts often prefer μ.Explore More HTML Entities!
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