π What are HTML Entities?
HTML entities are sequences of characters that represent other characters in HTML. They are used to display characters that either cannot be typed directly into HTML code or have special meaning within HTML, such as angle brackets (`<` and `>`). Using entities ensures that these characters are displayed correctly by the browser.
π A Brief History
The concept of character encoding and entities dates back to the early days of computing. As the internet evolved, the need to represent a wider range of characters became crucial. HTML entities were introduced to solve this problem, allowing web developers to display characters from various alphabets and special symbols consistently across different browsers and operating systems. Originally part of SGML, they became a fundamental aspect of HTML.
π Key Principles of HTML Entities
- π Character Representation: HTML entities allow you to display characters that might not be available on a user's keyboard or are reserved in HTML.
- π‘οΈ Avoiding Conflicts: Entities prevent conflicts with HTML syntax. For example, using `<` instead of `<` ensures the browser interprets it as a character rather than the start of an HTML tag.
- π£ Unicode Support: Many entities correspond to Unicode characters, ensuring broad compatibility and the ability to display a wide range of symbols and characters from different languages.
- π’ Numeric vs. Named Entities: Entities can be represented either by a name (e.g., `&`) or by a numeric code (e.g., `&`).
βοΈ Real-World Examples
Here are some common HTML entities and how they're used:
| Character |
Entity Name |
Entity Number |
Description |
| < |
< |
< |
Less than |
| > |
> |
> |
Greater than |
| & |
& |
& |
Ampersand |
| " |
" |
" |
Double quote |
| ' |
' |
' |
Single quote (apostrophe) |
| |
|
  |
Non-breaking space |
| © |
© |
© |
Copyright symbol |
Example in Code:
<p>Copyright © 2024 Eoku TV</p>
This code will display: Copyright Β© 2024 Eoku TV
π‘ Conclusion
HTML entities are a fundamental tool in web development, ensuring that special characters and symbols are displayed correctly and consistently across different browsers. Understanding and using them properly is essential for creating robust and user-friendly web pages.