HTML Entity for Subscript Minus (₋)

Beginner

5 min read

Updated: Sep 2026

1 example

Unicode U+208B

HTML Entity for subscript minus (U+208B) tutorial illustration

Definition

What Is Subscript Minus?

Subscript minus (₋) is the Unicode character at U+208B in the Superscripts and Subscripts block. Official name: SUBSCRIPT MINUS. It is a dedicated subscript form of the minus sign for math, chemistry, and plain-text notation.

Remember

Character     ₋
Unicode       U+208B
Hex entity    &#x208B;
Decimal       &#8331;
CSS escape    \208B
Named entity  (none)
Not the same  - · &minus; · ⁻

Prefer ₋ or ₋ in HTML markup. You can also type ₋ in UTF-8. There is no named entity.

Reference

Quick Reference

One table for every form you will actually use.

Form	Code	Where it goes
Direct character	`₋`	HTML text (UTF-8)
Hex entity	`₋`	HTML markup (preferred)
Decimal entity	`₋`	HTML markup
CSS escape	`\208B`	Stylesheet `content`
Named entity	—	Not defined in HTML5
Superscript minus (related)	`⁻` (⁻, U+207B)	Raised counterpart

When to Use Which

Situation	Use
True subscript minus glyph	`₋` or `₋`
Ordinary hyphen / ASCII minus	Type `-`
Mathematical minus sign	`−` (−)
Semantic HTML subscript	`<sub>-</sub>`
Superscript minus	⁻ / `⁻`
Generated text via `::before` / `::after`	`content: "\208B"`

See it

Live Preview

Subscript minus rendered next to related marks.

Example x₋y

Large glyph ₋

Compared ₋ - − ⁻

With entities Hex: ₋ | Decimal: ₋

Code

Complete HTML Example

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

Hex + Decimal + CSS + Typed

Four ways to produce ₋, plus a short subscript example.

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Subscript Minus (₋) in HTML</title>
  <style>
    #point::after {
      content: "\208B";
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <p>Using Hex Code: &#x208B;</p>
  <p>Using HTML Code: &#8331;</p>
  <p id="point">Using CSS Entity: </p>
  <p>Typed directly: ₋</p>
  <p>Example: x₋y</p>
</body>
</html>

Try It Yourself

How It Works

1. Hex: U+208B → ₋ in HTML. The browser turns it into ₋.

2. Decimal: same code point as 8331 → ₋. Same result as hex.

3. CSS: use \208B in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that ₋ after the paragraph text.

4. Typed / example: paste ₋ in UTF-8, or write x₋y for a short subscript-style expression.

Pitfalls & Tips

Common mistakes when working with Subscript Minus.

Named?

No named entity

HTML5 does not define a named entity for U+208B. Use ₋ or ₋.

Not hyphen-minus

Typing - is U+002D. Prefer U+208B only when a true subscript glyph is required.

−

Not mathematical minus

− is U+2212 (−), the standard math minus — not a subscript character.

⁻

Not superscript minus

Superscript minus is U+207B (⁻). Subscript minus is U+208B.

Entity vs ``

- styles a normal hyphen as subscript. ₋ is a fixed Unicode character — pick one approach per context.

CSS vs HTML

Do not mix escapes

\208B belongs in CSS strings. ₋ / ₋ belong in HTML.

Compatibility

Browser Support

Subscript minus (U+208B) and its entity forms (₋, ₋, CSS \\208B) are supported in all mainstream browsers. Visible glyphs depend on font coverage for Superscripts and Subscripts.

✓ Universal support

Subscript Minus (₋)

Encode with 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+208B / entities Full support

Bottom line: Prefer ₋ or ₋ in HTML. Use \\208B only inside CSS content. There is no named entity.

Remember

Key Takeaways

Unicode: this mark is U+208B (decimal 8331) — glyph ₋.
HTML: use ₋ or ₋ — no named entity; typing ₋ also works.
CSS: use \208B inside content for generated text.
Meaning: ₋ = subscript minus — not -, not −, not ⁻.

One line: U+208B → ₋ / ₋ / CSS \208B.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I display ₋ in HTML?

Use ₋ (hex), ₋ (decimal), type ₋ directly in UTF-8, or the CSS escape \208B in content. There is no named HTML entity for U+208B.

What is the Unicode value for this mark?

U+208B (SUBSCRIPT MINUS). Hex 208B, decimal 8331. It belongs to Superscripts and Subscripts (U+2070–U+209F).

Is there a named HTML entity for U+208B?

No. HTML5 does not define a named entity for this character. Use numeric forms ₋ or ₋.

When should I use U+208B?

Use it when you need a true subscript minus glyph in plain text (e.g. chemical or math-style notation). Prefer - or − for normal subtraction, - when HTML structure is enough, and U+207B for superscript minus.

What is the difference between HTML code and CSS entity for U+208B?

HTML entities (₋ or ₋) go in markup. The CSS escape \208B goes in stylesheet strings (usually content on ::before/::after).

Is ₋ the same as - or −?

No. ₋ is a dedicated Unicode subscript character (U+208B). - is hyphen-minus (U+002D). − is the mathematical minus sign (U+2212). They look related but are different code points.

Did you know?

Subscript minus (₋) is Unicode U+208B (decimal 8331) — SUBSCRIPT MINUS in the Superscripts and Subscripts block (U+2070–U+209F). HTML5 has no named entity — use ₋ or ₋. The raised counterpart is superscript minus (U+207B). For ordinary minus, prefer − (U+2212) or type -.

Next: Subscript Plus

Learn the HTML entity for subscript plus (₊).

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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