Numeric character references Unicode and HTML

in order work around limitations of legacy encodings, html designed such possible represent characters whole of unicode inside html document using numeric character reference: sequence of characters explicitly spell out unicode code point of character being represented. character reference takes form &#n;, n either decimal number unicode code point, or hexadecimal number, in case must prefixed x. characters compose numeric character reference universally representable in every encoding approved use on internet.

for example, unicode code point u+5408, corresponds particular chinese character, has converted decimal number, preceded &# , followed ;, this: 合, produces this: 合 (if doesn t chinese character, see template:special characters).

the support hexadecimal in context more recent, older browsers might have problems displaying characters referenced hexadecimal numbers—but have problem displaying unicode characters above code point 255 anyway. ensure better compatibility older browsers, still common practice convert hexadecimal code point decimal value (for example 合 instead of 合).