HTML Entity for Squared Dot Operator (⊡)

Beginner
5 min read
Updated: Sep 2026
1 example
Unicode U+22A1

What Is Squared Dot Operator?

Squared dot operator (⊡) is the Unicode character at U+22A1 in Mathematical Operators. Official name: SQUARED DOT OPERATOR. It is a boxed (square) form of a center dot used in specialized math notation.

Remember
Character     ⊡
Unicode       U+22A1
Named entity  ⊡
Hex entity    ⊡
Decimal       ⊡
CSS escape    \22A1
Not the same  · · ⊙ · ⊠

Prefer ⊡ in HTML markup (⊡ is an alias). You can also type ⊡ in UTF-8, or use numeric forms when needed. For an ordinary middle dot, use · (·) instead.

Quick Reference

One table for every form you will actually use.

FormCodeWhere it goes
Named entity⊡HTML markup (preferred)
Alias⊡Same glyph as ⊡
Direct character⊡HTML text (UTF-8)
Hex entity⊡HTML markup
Decimal entity⊡HTML markup
CSS escape\22A1Stylesheet content
Middle dot (related)· (U+00B7)Named ·

When to Use Which

SituationUse
Squared / boxed dot operator⊡ or type ⊡
Ordinary middle dot· (·)
Circled dot operator⊙ (⊙)
Squared times / minus (related boxes)⊠ · ⊟
Generated text via ::before / ::aftercontent: "\22A1"

Live Preview

Squared dot operator rendered alone and next to related operators.

Large glyph ⊡
Notation A ⊡ B
Compared ⊡ (sdotb)  |  · (middot)  |  ⊙ (odot)
Hint Compare: Boxed ⊡ vs Dot · vs Circled ⊙
With entities Named: ⊡ | Hex: ⊡ | Decimal: ⊡

Complete HTML Example

One page that shows squared dot operator 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 produce ⊡, plus a short notation example.

html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Squared Dot Operator (⊡) in HTML</title>
  <style>
    #point::after {
      content: "\22A1";
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <p>Using Named Entity: &sdotb;</p>
  <p>Using Hex Code: &#x22A1;</p>
  <p>Using HTML Code: &#8865;</p>
  <p id="point">Using CSS Entity: </p>
  <p>Typed directly: ⊡</p>
  <p>Notation: A &sdotb; B</p>
</body>
</html>
Try It Yourself

How It Works

1. Named: &sdotb; is the HTML5 name for U+22A1 → ⊡. Best default in markup.

2. Hex: U+22A1 → &#x22A1; in HTML. Same glyph as the named form.

3. Decimal: same code point as 8865 → &#8865;. Same result as hex and named.

4. CSS: use \22A1 in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that ⊡ after the paragraph text.

5. Typed / notation: paste ⊡ in UTF-8, or write A &sdotb; B for a short expression.

Pitfalls & Tips

Common mistakes when working with &sdotb;.

vs ·

Not an ordinary middle dot

U+00B7 (·, &middot;) is the common centered dot. U+22A1 is the squared (boxed) form.

vs ⊙

Not circled dot

⊙ (U+2299, &odot;) is circled, not squared. Do not swap them.

Name

Remember &sdotb;

The named entity is &sdotb; (or &dotsquare;) — not &sdot; (that is a different operator).

CSS vs HTML

Do not mix escapes

\22A1 belongs in CSS strings. &sdotb; / &#x22A1; / &#8865; belong in HTML.

Semicolon

End named entities

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

A11y

Name the operator in context

Screen readers may announce this symbol unevenly. Prefer nearby words like “squared dot” when the glyph carries meaning alone.

Browser Support

Squared dot operator (U+22A1) and its entity forms (&sdotb;, &#x22A1;, &#8865;, CSS \\22A1) are supported in all mainstream browsers. Visible glyphs depend on Mathematical Operators font coverage.

✓ Universal support

Squared Dot Operator (&#x22A1;)

Encode with named, hex, decimal, CSS escape, or type the character — same code point everywhere encoding is supported.

100% Browser coverage
Google Chrome Supported
Yes
Microsoft Edge Supported
Yes
Mozilla Firefox Supported
Yes
Apple Safari Supported
Yes
Opera Supported
Yes
Internet Explorer All versions
Yes
U+22A1 / entities Full support

Bottom line: Prefer &sdotb; in HTML. Use &#x22A1; / &#8865; when numeric form is required, and \\22A1 only inside CSS content.

Key Takeaways

  • Unicode: squared dot operator is U+22A1 (decimal 8865) — glyph ⊡.
  • HTML: prefer &sdotb; — also &#x22A1; / &#8865; / type ⊡.
  • CSS: use \22A1 inside content for generated text.
  • Meaning: ⊡ is boxed dot — not · (&middot;), not ⊙.

One line: U+22A1 → &sdotb; / &#x22A1; / &#8865; / CSS \22A1.

Frequently Asked Questions

Use &sdotb; (named), &#x22A1; (hex), &#8865; (decimal), type ⊡ directly in UTF-8, or the CSS escape \22A1 in content. Prefer &sdotb; in normal HTML.
U+22A1 (SQUARED DOT OPERATOR). Hex 22A1, decimal 8865. It belongs to Mathematical Operators (U+2200–U+22FF).
Yes. Use &sdotb; (or the alias &dotsquare;). Numeric forms &#8865; and &#x22A1; also work.
No. ⊡ is U+22A1 (&sdotb;). · is U+00B7 (&middot;). ⊙ is U+2299 (&odot;, circled dot operator).
Use it for boxed-dot / squared-dot math notation in technical and academic pages — not as a substitute for an ordinary middle dot ·.
HTML entities (&sdotb;, &#8865;, or &#x22A1;) go in markup. The CSS escape \22A1 goes in stylesheet strings (usually content on ::before/::after).

Did you know?

Squared dot operator is Unicode U+22A1 (decimal 8865) — glyph ⊡ in Mathematical Operators (U+2200–U+22FF). HTML5 names it &sdotb; (also &dotsquare;). Official name: SQUARED DOT OPERATOR. Do not confuse with middle dot U+00B7 (&middot;, ·) or circled dot operator U+2299 (&odot;, ⊙).

Next: Squared Minus

Learn the HTML entity for squared minus (U+229F).

Continue tutorial →

About the author

Mari Selvan M P
Mari Selvan M P 🔗

Developer, cloud engineer, and technical writer

  • Experience 12 years building web and cloud systems
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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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