HTML Entity for Set Minus (∖)

Beginner

5 min read

Updated: Sep 2026

1 example

Unicode U+2216

HTML Entity for Set Minus (U+2216) tutorial illustration

Definition

What Is the Set Minus Entity?

Set Minus (∖) is the Mathematical Operators character at Unicode U+2216 (SET MINUS). HTML5 names it &setminus;. It denotes set difference (elements in A that are not in B).

Remember

Character     ∖
Unicode       U+2216
Named entity  &setminus;
Hex entity    &#x2216;
Decimal       &#8726;
CSS escape    \2216
Not the same  &minus; (−) · \ (ASCII backslash)

Named, hex, decimal, CSS, and a typed character all produce the same glyph: ∖. Prefer &setminus; in math markup. For arithmetic subtraction use −; do not substitute ASCII backslash when you need U+2216.

Reference

Quick Reference

One table for every form you will actually use.

Form	Code	Where it goes
Named entity	`&setminus;`	HTML markup (best default)
Hex entity	`∖`	HTML markup
Decimal entity	`∖`	HTML markup
CSS escape	`\2216`	Stylesheet `content`
Direct character	`∖`	UTF-8 HTML text

When to Use Which

Situation	Use
Set difference (A ∖ B)	`&setminus;` (preferred)
Numeric-only markup	`∖` or `∖`
Generated text via `::before` / `::after`	`content: "\2216"`
Arithmetic subtraction	Use − (U+2212)
ASCII backslash	Use U+005C only when you mean backslash

See it

Live Preview

Set Minus in set-theory notation, compared with arithmetic minus.

Set difference A ∖ B

Large glyph ∖

Named entity &setminus; → ∖

vs minus / hyphen ∖ | − | -

With entities Named: ∖ | Hex: ∖ | Decimal: ∖

Code

Complete HTML Example

One page that shows Set Minus with named, hex, decimal, CSS escape, and a typed character. Use View Output or open the live editor.

Named + Hex + Decimal + CSS + Typed

Five ways to display ∖ in HTML and CSS.

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Set Minus (∖)</title>
  <style>
    #point::after {
      content: "\2216";
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <p>Built with Named: &setminus;</p>
  <p>Built with Hex: &#x2216;</p>
  <p>Built with Decimal: &#8726;</p>
  <p id="point">Built with CSS: </p>
  <p>Typed: ∖</p>
  <p>Set difference: A &setminus; B</p>
</body>
</html>

Try It Yourself

How It Works

1. Named: &setminus; is the preferred HTML5 name for U+2216 → ∖.

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

3. Decimal: same code point as 8726 → ∖.

4. CSS: use \2216 in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends ∖.

5. Typed: paste ∖ in a UTF-8 document, or write A &setminus; B.

Pitfalls & Tips

Common mistakes when working with Set Minus.

Named

Prefer `&setminus;`

&setminus; is the clear HTML5 named form (alias &ssetmn;). It is case-sensitive.

Look-alikes

∖ ≠ − ≠ \

U+2216 is set minus. − is arithmetic. ASCII \ is a different code point — not a substitute for math set difference.

Meaning

Set difference only

Use ∖ for A ∖ B. Use − when you mean 5 − 2.

Fonts

Glyph coverage

Most math-capable fonts include U+2216. Still test body fonts — some omit Mathematical Operators.

CSS vs HTML

Do not mix escapes

\2216 belongs in CSS. &setminus; / ∖ / ∖ belong in HTML.

Semicolon

End references

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

Compatibility

Browser Support

Set Minus (U+2216) and its entity forms (&setminus;, ∖, ∖, CSS \\2216) are supported in all modern browsers. Glyph coverage depends on the font.

✓ Universal encoding

Set Minus (∖)

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+2216 / &setminus; Full support

Bottom line: Prefer &setminus; in HTML. Use ∖ / ∖ when numeric form is required, and \\2216 only inside CSS content.

Remember

Key Takeaways

Unicode: this symbol is U+2216 (decimal 8726) — set difference.
HTML: prefer &setminus; (or ∖ / ∖).
CSS: use \2216 inside content for generated text.
Watch out: not the same as − (−) or ASCII backslash.

One line: U+2216 → &setminus; / ∖ / CSS \2216.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I display Set Minus (∖) in HTML using entities?

Use &setminus; (named), ∖ (hex), ∖ (decimal), or the CSS escape \2216 in the content property. All render ∖. Prefer &setminus; for readable math markup.

What is the Unicode value for Set Minus?

U+2216 (SET MINUS). Hex 2216, decimal 8726, named entity &setminus;. It belongs to Mathematical Operators (U+2200–U+22FF).

Is there a named HTML entity for U+2216?

Yes. HTML5 defines &setminus; for U+2216 (also &ssetmn;). It is case-sensitive — write &setminus;, not &SETMINUS;.

When should I use this HTML entity?

Use it for set difference in set theory and math notes (A ∖ B). Prefer − for arithmetic subtraction and a typed backslash only when ASCII is intentional.

What is the difference between HTML code and CSS entity for U+2216?

HTML entities (&setminus;, ∖, or ∖) go in markup. The CSS escape \2216 is used in stylesheets (usually in the content property of ::before/::after). Both render ∖.

How is U+2216 different from U+2212?

U+2216 is SET MINUS (set difference). U+2212 is MINUS SIGN (−) for arithmetic. Same family of shapes, different meanings.

Did you know?

Set Minus is Unicode U+2216 (decimal 8726) — SET MINUS for set difference (e.g. A ∖ B). HTML5 names it &setminus; (case-sensitive; alias &ssetmn;). Do not confuse it with arithmetic minus (−, U+2212) or ASCII backslash.

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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.

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