Understanding the Meaning of < and > in HTML
The symbols < and > are used in HTML to represent the characters “”. These symbols are known as HTML entities and are used to encode special characters that have a specific meaning in HTML. In this answer, we will explore the meaning and usage of < and > in HTML and discuss why they are commonly used.
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1. What is the meaning of < and > in HTML?
In HTML, the less than symbol “” is represented by the entity >. These entities are used to escape the characters “” so that they are not interpreted as HTML tags or entities within the HTML code.
For example, if you want to display the text “This is a bold statement”, you would need to use the < and > entities to encode the less than and greater than symbols within the HTML tags, like this:
This is a <strong>bold</strong> statement
By using the < and > entities, the less than and greater than symbols are treated as plain text and are not interpreted as HTML tags. This ensures that the text “bold” is displayed as-is and is not rendered as a bold statement.
2. Why are < and > used in HTML?
The use of < and > in HTML is essential for proper markup and rendering of web pages. Here are some reasons why these entities are commonly used:
2.1 Escaping HTML tags and entities
HTML tags are enclosed within less than and greater than symbols, and if you want to display these symbols as plain text instead of interpreting them as HTML tags, you need to escape them using the < and > entities.
For example, if you want to display the text “This is an HTML tag: <p>”, you would need to use the < and > entities to escape the less than and greater than symbols within the HTML tag, like this:
This is an HTML tag: <p>
By using the < and > entities, the HTML tag is treated as plain text and is not interpreted as an actual HTML tag.
Similarly, if you want to display special characters in HTML, such as copyright symbol (©) or trademark symbol (™), you would need to use the respective HTML entities (© and ™) to escape these characters and display them correctly in the browser.
2.2 Writing code examples or displaying code snippets
When writing code examples or displaying code snippets in HTML, it is common to use the < and > entities to represent the less than and greater than symbols within the code.
For example, if you want to display a code snippet that contains an HTML tag, you would need to use the < and > entities to escape the HTML tag within the code, like this:
<p>This is a paragraph</p>
By using the < and > entities, the HTML tag is displayed as plain text within the code snippet and is not interpreted as an actual HTML tag.
3. Best Practices for Using < and > in HTML
To ensure proper and valid HTML markup, it is important to follow best practices when using the < and > entities. Here are some recommendations:
3.1 Use < and > to escape special characters
Always use the < and > entities to escape special characters that have a specific meaning in HTML. This includes characters like , “, ‘, and &. By escaping these characters, you prevent them from being interpreted as HTML tags or entities, ensuring that they are displayed as plain text.
3.2 Use < and > within code snippets
When writing code examples or displaying code snippets in HTML, use the < and > entities to represent the less than and greater than symbols within the code. This ensures that the code is displayed correctly and is not interpreted as HTML tags.
3.3 Use HTML entities for other special characters
Apart from the less than and greater than symbols, HTML provides entities for other special characters like ©, ™, and ®. When using these characters in HTML, it is recommended to use their respective HTML entities to ensure proper rendering across different browsers and devices.
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