Horizontal Ellipsis …

The Horizontal Ellipsis character (…) is a standard HTML entity defined in the HTML specification. In HTML source code, it can be written using the named entity reference …, the decimal numeric character reference …, or the hexadecimal numeric reference …. The character is assigned Unicode code point U+2026 in the Universal Character Set.

The horizontal ellipsis is a single character consisting of three evenly spaced dots. It is typographically distinct from three consecutive periods, which produce uneven spacing. The ellipsis indicates omitted text, a trailing thought, or a pause in speech. Using the proper entity character is important for correct rendering and text processing.

Punctuation and whitespace entities are among the most frequently used HTML entities in web development. They handle characters that either have special meaning in HTML syntax — such as angle brackets and ampersands — or represent typographic characters that improve the visual quality of text, like em dashes and curly quotes. Proper use of punctuation entities is essential for producing valid, well-formed HTML documents and achieving professional-looking typography on the web.

When deciding how to encode the Horizontal Ellipsis character in your HTML documents, the named entity … is generally the most readable choice for developers reviewing or maintaining source code. The decimal form … and hexadecimal form … are equally valid alternatives that work in contexts where named entities may not be supported, or when generating HTML output programmatically from server-side code. All three representations produce identical visual output in every modern web browser.

Use the ellipsis entity to indicate omitted text in quotations, create trailing-off effects in dialogue, or show truncated content in user interfaces. Always use the single … character rather than typing three dots, as it ensures consistent spacing and allows text processors and search engines to handle it as a single unit.