HTML Entity for Ring (∘)

Beginner

5 min read

Updated: Sep 2026

1 example

Unicode U+2218

HTML Entity for Ring / ring operator (U+2218) tutorial illustration

Definition

What Is the Ring Entity?

Ring (∘) is the Mathematical Operators character at Unicode U+2218 (RING OPERATOR). It is the standard symbol for function composition (for example f ∘ g).

Remember

Character     ∘
Unicode       U+2218
Hex entity    &#x2218;
Decimal       &#8728;
Named entity  &compfn;
CSS escape    \2218
Not the same  &deg; (°) · &cir; (○)

All of these produce the same glyph: ∘. Prefer &compfn; when you want an explicit entity.

Reference

Quick Reference

One table for every form you will actually use.

Form	Code	Where it goes
Named entity	`&compfn;`	HTML markup (best entity default)
Hex entity	`∘`	HTML markup
Decimal entity	`∘`	HTML markup
CSS escape	`\2218`	Stylesheet `content`
Direct character	`∘`	UTF-8 HTML text

When to Use Which

Situation	Use
Readable HTML entity source	`&compfn;`
Need a numeric entity	`∘` or `∘`
Generated text via `::before` / `::after`	`content: "\2218"`
Temperature / angles (degrees)	Use ° (U+00B0)
Diacritic ring above a letter	Use U+030A (combining) or `&ring;` (spacing)

See it

Live Preview

Ring operator in common math and label contexts.

Composition f ∘ g

Large glyph ∘

Named entity &compfn; → ∘

vs ° / &cir; ∘ | ° | ○

With entities Hex: ∘ | Decimal: ∘ | Named: ∘

Code

Complete HTML Example

One page that shows this symbol 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>Ring (∘)</title>
  <style>
    #point::after {
      content: "\2218";
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <p>Using Hex Code: &#x2218;</p>
  <p>Using HTML Code: &#8728;</p>
  <p>Using Named Entity: &compfn;</p>
  <p id="point">Using CSS Entity: </p>
  <p><code>f &compfn; g</code></p>
</body>
</html>

Try It Yourself

How It Works

1. Hex: U+2218 → ∘ in HTML. The browser turns it into ∘.

2. Decimal: same code point as 8728 → ∘. Same result as hex.

3. Named: &compfn; is the HTML5 name for this character (composition function).

4. CSS: use \2218 in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that ∘ after the paragraph text.

Pitfalls & Tips

Common mistakes when working with Ring.

Look-alikes

∘ ≠ ° ≠ ○

&compfn; is math composition. ° is degrees. &cir; is a white circle — pick the meaning you need.

Name

`&compfn;` ≠ `&ring;`

&ring; is the spacing ring above (U+02DA). The ring operator’s named entity is &compfn;.

Fonts

Math glyph coverage

Most modern fonts include U+2218. If it looks like a tiny circle, confirm you did not use ° or &cir; by mistake.

CSS vs HTML

Do not mix escapes

\2218 belongs in CSS. &compfn; / ∘ / ∘ belong in HTML.

A11y

Add nearby words

In prose, prefer f &compfn; g with letter labels, or use MathML / aria-label for standalone operators.

Semicolon

End references

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

Compatibility

Browser Support

Ring (U+2218) and its entity forms (&compfn;, ∘, ∘, CSS \\2218) are supported in all modern browsers. Glyph coverage depends on the font.

✓ Universal encoding

Ring (&compfn;)

Encode with named, hex, decimal, or CSS escape — or type ∘ directly in UTF-8 HTML.

100% Browser coverage

Google Chrome Supported

Yes

Microsoft Edge Supported

Yes

Mozilla Firefox Supported

Yes

Apple Safari Supported

Yes

Opera Supported

Yes

Internet Explorer IE 9+

Yes*

U+2218 / &compfn; Full support

Bottom line: Prefer &compfn; for readable HTML. Use \\2218 only inside CSS content.

Remember

Key Takeaways

Unicode: this symbol is U+2218 (decimal 8728).
HTML: prefer &compfn; — or use ∘ / ∘.
CSS: use \2218 inside content for generated text.
Watch out: &compfn; ≠ ° ≠ &cir; ≠ &ring;.

One line: U+2218 → &compfn; / ∘ / ∘ / CSS \2218.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I display Ring (∘) in HTML using entities?

Use &compfn; (named), ∘ (hex), ∘ (decimal), or the CSS escape \2218 in the content property. You can also type ∘ directly in UTF-8 HTML.

What is the Unicode value for Ring?

U+2218 (RING OPERATOR). Hex 2218, decimal 8728. It belongs to the Mathematical Operators block (U+2200–U+22FF).

Is there a named HTML entity for U+2218?

Yes. &compfn; is the HTML5 named entity (short for composition function). You can also use ∘ or ∘.

When should I use this HTML entity?

Use it for function composition (f ∘ g), algebra, and math notation when you need the ring operator. Prefer &compfn; for readable HTML.

What is the difference between HTML code and CSS entity for U+2218?

HTML entities (&compfn;, ∘, or ∘) go in markup. The CSS escape \2218 is used in stylesheets (usually in the content property of ::before/::after). Both render ∘.

How is &compfn; different from ° or &cir;?

° (U+00B0) is the degree sign. &cir; (U+25CB) is a white circle glyph. &compfn; (U+2218) is the mathematical ring operator used for composition — different code points and meanings.

Did you know?

Ring (ring operator) is Unicode U+2218 (decimal 8728) — RING OPERATOR. HTML5 provides &compfn;. Prefer it for readable source. Do not confuse it with the degree sign ° (U+00B0), white circle &cir; (U+25CB), or spacing ring above &ring; (U+02DA).

Next: Ring Above

Learn the HTML entity for Ring Above — next in this sequence.

Continue 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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