Less Than Symbol (<)

The less than symbol < is a Unicode text character, not an image. The less than symbol compares two values and shows that the value on the left is smaller than the value on the right. Because it remains selectable text, it can be copied into documents, messages, spreadsheets, source code, usernames, captions, and other fields that support Unicode. Its appearance can change with the active font or operating system, while the stored character remains U+003C (LESS-THAN SIGN).

Supporting searches such as “mathematical symbol less than”, “less than symbol example”, and “what does the less than symbol look like” usually describe the same core task from different angles: identifying the correct character, copying it, or learning how to enter it with a keyboard. This page keeps those intents together so you do not need separate pages for small wording differences. Use the copy control for the fastest method, then check the platform rows when you need a repeatable shortcut on a specific device or app.

Queries such as “math less than symbol” and “what is the symbol for less than” are covered by the keyboard, application, and character-code sections. The Windows and Mac instructions explain practical input methods, while the Microsoft Word and Google Docs rows cover document editing. Unicode, HTML, hexadecimal, and CSS values are listed separately so developers can insert the exact character without confusing it with a similar-looking mark.

Choose < when its documented meaning matches the surrounding text, and compare the related-symbol links below when another character may be more precise. Spacing and visual style can vary by context, so follow the style guide of the document or platform. For example: 3 < 7