Not Equal To ≠

The Not Equal To 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+2260 in the Universal Character Set.

The not-equal-to sign is a mathematical symbol indicating inequality between two values. It is displayed as an equals sign with a diagonal stroke through it. This symbol is used extensively in mathematics, logic, and programming documentation to express that two quantities are different.

Mathematical HTML entities enable web authors to display proper mathematical notation without relying on images or specialized rendering libraries like MathJax or KaTeX. While complex equations and multi-line formulas may still benefit from dedicated math typesetting tools, individual symbols expressed as HTML entities render quickly, remain accessible to screen readers, and can be styled with CSS just like regular text content.

When deciding how to encode the Not Equal To 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 not-equal entity in mathematical expressions, logical statements, and technical documentation where you need to show inequality. In programming articles, it represents the concept behind operators like != or !== while being the mathematically standard notation. It provides clearer communication than writing 'not equal to' in words.