Character entities play a crucial role in web development, allowing you to display special characters and symbols that are not part of the standard character set. In this WordPress knowledgebase article, we will explore the concept of character entities’ significance in web development and how to use them effectively in your WordPress website.
Character Entities or Extended Characters:
Character entities, also known as extended characters, are specific codes or sequences used to represent special characters or symbols that are not typically found on a standard keyboard or within the ASCII character set. These characters include copyright symbols, currency symbols, mathematical symbols, diacritical marks, and many more.
Using Character Entities in WordPress:
WordPress provides a convenient way to use character entities within your website content. Here are a few methods you can employ:
a. HTML Entity Codes: You can use HTML entity codes directly in your WordPress content. For example, “©” represents the copyright symbol, and “—” means an em dash.
b. Character Entity Plugins: WordPress offers various plugins that simplify character entity use. These plugins provide an intuitive interface where you can select the desired unique character and insert it directly into your content.
c. Visual Editor: The WordPress visual editor also allows inserting character entities using the “Insert Special Character” button. Simply click the button and select the character or symbol you wish to include.