HTML Entity for Not Equal To (≠)
What You'll Learn
How to display the Not Equal To symbol (≠) in HTML using named, hexadecimal, decimal, and CSS escape methods. This comparison operator states that two values are not equal (e.g. a ≠ b).
This character is U+2260 (NOT EQUAL TO) in the Mathematical Operators block (U+2200–U+22FF). Render it with the named entity ≠, ≠, ≠, or CSS escape \2260. Compare with the ordinary equals sign in Equal To (=, U+003D) and Almost Equal To (≈, ≈).
⚡ Quick Reference — Not Equal To
U+2260Mathematical Operators
≠Hexadecimal reference
≠Decimal reference
≠HTML5 named entity for U+2260
Name Value
──────────── ──────────
Unicode U+2260
Hex code ≠
HTML code ≠
Named entity ≠
CSS code \2260
Meaning Not equal to
Related U+003D = equal (=, =)
U+2248 = almost equal (≈, ≈)
U+2209 = not element of (∉, ∉)
Block Mathematical Operators (U+2200–U+22FF)Complete HTML Example
A simple example showing ≠ using hexadecimal code, decimal HTML code, the named entity, and a CSS content escape:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
#point::after{
content: "\2260";
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Symbol (hex): ≠</p>
<p>Symbol (decimal): ≠</p>
<p>Symbol (named): ≠</p>
<p id="point">Symbol (CSS): </p>
</body>
</html>🌐 Browser Support
U+2260 is widely supported wherever Unicode Mathematical Operators render correctly:
👀 Live Preview
See ≠ in comparison and mathematical contexts:
🧠 How It Works
Named Entity
≠ is the HTML named entity for U+2260—the most readable choice when writing comparison markup.
Hexadecimal Code
≠ uses the Unicode hexadecimal value 2260 to display the not-equal symbol.
Decimal HTML Code
≠ uses the decimal Unicode value 8800 to display the same character.
CSS Entity
\2260 is used in CSS stylesheets, particularly in the content property of pseudo-elements like ::before and ::after.
Same visual result
All four methods produce: ≠. Unicode U+2260 in Mathematical Operators (U+2200–U+22FF).
Use Cases
The ≠ symbol (≠) is commonly used in:
Expressing inequality between numbers, variables, or expressions.
Explaining comparison operators and inequality in tutorials.
Textbooks, papers, and lecture notes published as HTML.
Formulas and specifications where values must differ.
Interactive math and CS modules with web-based notation.
Unicode charts and HTML entity documentation for math symbols.
💡 Best Practices
Do
- Use
≠for readable inequality markup - Distinguish ≠ from = (equal) and ≈ (almost equal)
- Pair ≠ with plain-language description on first use
- Use numeric references in generated or XML-first workflows
- Serve pages with UTF-8 (
<meta charset="utf-8">)
Don’t
- Confuse ≠ with ∉ (not element of) or ≉ (not almost equal)
- Use the ASCII slash-equals combo
<>when you mean the math symbol ≠ - Use padded Unicode notation like U+02260—the correct value is
U+2260 - Put CSS escape
\2260in HTML text nodes - Use
\02260in CSS—the correct escape is\2260
Key Takeaways
Three HTML references plus CSS all render ≠
≠ ≠ ≠For CSS stylesheets, use the escape in the content property
\2260Unicode U+2260 — NOT EQUAL TO
Mathematical Operators block (U+2200–U+22FF)
≠ is the preferred named entity for readable source markup
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
≠ (named), ≠ (hex), ≠ (decimal), or \2260 in CSS content. All produce ≠.U+2260 (NOT EQUAL TO). Mathematical Operators block (U+2200–U+22FF). Hex 2260, decimal 8800. Named entity: ≠.≈) when values are approximately equal.≠, ≠, or ≠) go directly in markup. The CSS escape \2260 is used in stylesheets, typically in the content property of pseudo-elements. Same visual result, different layers of the stack.≠ is the named HTML entity for U+2260 and is the most readable option in source markup.Explore More HTML Entities!
Discover 1500+ HTML character references — arrows, symbols, and more.
About the author
8 people found this page helpful