Less-than With Circle Inside Symbol
A mathematical comparison symbol: less-than with a circle inside.
U+2A79
⩹ is a mathematical symbol commonly shown as “less-than with circle inside.” It’s useful when you need a compact glyph for a specialized comparison or annotation. Below you’ll find meaning, copy options, and practical examples.
Less-than With Circle Inside Symbol Meaning
⩹ (U+2A79) is the Unicode character named “LESS-THAN WITH CIRCLE INSIDE.” In many contexts it is used to represent a less-than style relation that includes an internal circle, distinguishing it from the ordinary less-than sign (<). Because circle-inside variants are often used to convey a stricter, modified, or annotated comparison, authors and designers may choose it when standard symbols don’t match their intended notation. It’s primarily encountered in mathematical typesetting, technical notation, and formal documents where a specific glyph is required for clarity or consistency.
Common uses
- •Math notation in documents or equations where a “less-than with circle inside” glyph is preferred
- •Designing typography symbols or icon-like mathematical indicators for educational materials
- •Annotating comparisons in technical writing when you need a distinct marker from “<”
- •Creating consistent symbol sets for slides, charts, or worksheets used in training
- •Copy/pasting the exact Unicode character into web content for consistent rendering
Examples
⩹ Less-than with circle inside
- ⩹Let x ⩹ y indicate a restricted comparison.
- ⩹In the table, the entry is shown as ⩹ for the chosen condition.
- ⩹A ⩹ B is used to mark a modified “less-than” rule in the worksheet.
- ⩹The expression x ⩹ 5 is highlighted in the example problem.
- ⩹Use ⩹ to distinguish this case from the plain less-than sign.
Variations
Ready to copy
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+2A79 | |
| HTML Entity | ⩹ | |
| HTML Code | ⩹ | |
| CSS | \2A79 | |
| Alt Code | Alt + 10873 | |
| Decimal | 10873 |
How to type Less-than With Circle Inside Symbol (⩹)
On Windows
Hold Alt and type 10873 on the numeric keypad. In Word, type 2A79 then press Alt + X.
On Mac
Switch to the Unicode Hex Input keyboard, then hold Option and type 2A79. Or press Control + Command + Space and search.
On Linux
Press Control + Shift + U, type 2a79, then press Enter or Space.
Anywhere
Copy ⩹ with the button above and paste it wherever you need it — this works on every device and in every app, with no keyboard shortcut to remember.
FAQ
What does the Less-than With Circle Inside symbol mean?
⩹ (U+2A79) is the Unicode character named “LESS-THAN WITH CIRCLE INSIDE.” In many contexts it is used to represent a less-than style relation that includes an internal circle, distinguishing it from the ordinary less-than sign (<). Because circle-inside variants are often used to convey a stricter, modified, or annotated comparison, authors and designers may choose it when standard symbols don’t match their intended notation. It’s primarily encountered in mathematical typesetting, technical notation, and formal documents where a specific glyph is required for clarity or consistency.
What Unicode character is ⩹?
⩹ is Unicode U+2A79, named “LESS-THAN WITH CIRCLE INSIDE.”
How can I copy and paste ⩹?
You can copy the character directly from this page. It will also paste as the exact glyph “⩹” when your system supports it.
How do I type ⩹ in HTML?
Use the HTML entity: ⩹.
What are common ways to render ⩹ in code?
CSS/Unicode escaping examples include \\2A79, and in JavaScript you can use \\u{2A79}.