HTML Entity for Underscore (_)

Beginner

5 min read

Updated: Sep 2026

1 example

Unicode U+005F

HTML Entity for Underscore (U+005F) tutorial illustration

Definition

What Is the Underscore Entity?

Underscore (_) is the Basic Latin character at Unicode U+005F (LOW LINE). It is the standard ASCII underscore used in snake_case, IDs, and file names.

Remember

Character     _
Unicode       U+005F
Hex entity    &#x5F;
Decimal       &#95;
Named entity  &lowbar;
CSS escape    \5F
Not the same  U+0332 (combining) · ‿ (undertie)

All of these produce the same glyph: _. Prefer typing _ in normal HTML. Use &lowbar; when you want an explicit entity.

Reference

Quick Reference

One table for every form you will actually use.

Form	Code	Where it goes
Direct character	`_`	UTF-8 HTML text (usual default)
Named entity	`&lowbar;`	HTML markup (explicit entity)
Hex entity	`_`	HTML markup
Decimal entity	`_`	HTML markup
CSS escape	`\5F`	Stylesheet `content`

When to Use Which

Situation	Use
Normal HTML / code samples	Type `_`
Readable named entity	`&lowbar;`
Need a numeric entity	`_` or `_`
Generated text via `::before` / `::after`	`content: "\5F"`
Combining underline effect	Use ̲ (U+0332)
Word separator in CSS IDs/classes	Prefer hyphen `-` or underscore `_`

See it

Live Preview

Underscore in common programming contexts.

snake_case user_name

Large glyph _

Named entity &lowbar; → _

vs - / ‿ _ | - | ‿

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 (plus a typed sample).

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Underscore (_)</title>
  <style>
    #point::after {
      content: "\5F";
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <p>Using Hex Code: &#x5F;</p>
  <p>Using HTML Code: &#95;</p>
  <p>Using Named Entity: &lowbar;</p>
  <p id="point">Using CSS Entity: </p>
  <p><code>user_name</code></p>
</body>
</html>

Try It Yourself

How It Works

1. Hex: U+005F → _ in HTML. The browser turns it into _.

2. Decimal: same code point as 95 → _. Same result as hex.

3. Named: &lowbar; is the HTML5 name for this character (alias &UnderBar;).

4. CSS: use \5F in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that _ after the paragraph text.

5. Typed: user_name shows the everyday approach — just type _ in UTF-8 source.

Pitfalls & Tips

Common mistakes when working with Underscore.

Look-alikes

_ ≠ combining underline ≠ ‿

U+005F is a spacing low line. Combining low line (U+0332) attaches under letters. Undertie (U+203F) is a different punctuation mark.

Default

Type `_` in normal HTML

Entities are optional here. Use &lowbar; when you want encoding to be visible in the source.

CSS classes

Spaces are invalid

Use _ or - in class and ID names — never spaces.

CSS vs HTML

Do not mix escapes

\5F belongs in CSS. &lowbar; / _ / _ belong in HTML.

A11y

Read as punctuation

Screen readers often say “underscore.” Prefer clear words nearby when the mark carries meaning alone.

Semicolon

End references

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

Compatibility

Browser Support

Underscore (U+005F) and its entity forms (&lowbar;, _, _, CSS \\5F) are supported in all modern browsers as a Basic Latin / ASCII character.

✓ Universal encoding

Underscore (_)

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 All

Yes

U+005F / &lowbar; Full support

Bottom line: Prefer typing _ in normal HTML. Use &lowbar; when an explicit entity helps, and \\5F only inside CSS content.

Remember

Key Takeaways

Unicode: this symbol is U+005F (decimal 95).
HTML: type _, or use &lowbar; / _ / _.
CSS: use \5F inside content for generated text.
Watch out: _ ≠ combining U+0332 ≠ undertie U+203F.

One line: U+005F → type _ / &lowbar; / _ / _ / CSS \5F.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I display Underscore (_) in HTML using entities?

Use &lowbar; (named), _ (hex), _ (decimal), or the CSS escape \5F in the content property. You can also type _ directly in UTF-8 HTML — that is the usual approach.

What is the Unicode value for Underscore?

U+005F (LOW LINE). Hex 5F, decimal 95. It belongs to Basic Latin (U+0000–U+007F).

Is there a named HTML entity for U+005F?

Yes. &lowbar; is the HTML5 named entity (alias &UnderBar;). You can also use _ or _.

When should I use this HTML entity?

Use an entity when you want encoding to be explicit in tutorials or generated markup. In everyday HTML, typing _ is fine for snake_case, IDs, and code samples.

What is the difference between HTML code and CSS entity for U+005F?

HTML entities (&lowbar;, _, or _) go in markup. The CSS escape \5F is used in stylesheets (usually in the content property of ::before/::after). Both render _.

How is _ different from combining low line?

The ASCII underscore _ (U+005F) is a spacing character. Combining low line (U+0332) attaches under the previous letter for underlining effects. They are different code points.

Did you know?

Underscore is Unicode U+005F (decimal 95) — LOW LINE. HTML5 provides &lowbar; (alias &UnderBar;). Prefer typing _ directly in UTF-8 HTML. Do not confuse it with the combining low line U+0332 or the undertie U+203F (‿).

Next: Undertie

Learn the HTML entity for Undertie — 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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