Comparison symbols are the signs that compare two values, such as = ≠ ≤ ≥ ≈ and ≡, and they copy and paste like any other text. This page lists more than 100 of them, from the basic signs to rarer variants and the code forms, with names and code points.
Comparison symbols copy and paste
Tap a comparison sign to copy it into a document, a message or a spreadsheet note. The groups go from the signs everyone uses to rarer less-than and greater-than variants, higher and lower markers and the keyboard forms used in code, and the search box finds a sign by its name, such as “not equal” or “approximately”.
The basic comparison signs
Less-than and greater-than variants A
Less-than and greater-than variants B
Less-than and greater-than variants C
Fullwidth, small and sign forms
Higher and lower markers
Pass, fail and tick marks
Keyboard forms used in code
Comparison phrases to paste
Comparison dividers
Kaomoji with comparisons
Comparison signs, names and meanings
Each sign has a name, a plain-language meaning, a keyboard form for code and an HTML entity. The table lists eleven of them; the keyboard form is blank where programming languages have no single equivalent.
| Symbol | Name | Meaning | In code | HTML entity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equals | Both sides have the same value | = | = | |
| Not equal to | The two sides differ | != or <> | ≠ | |
| Less than | Left is smaller than right | < | < | |
| Greater than | Left is larger than right | > | > | |
| Less than or equal to | Left is smaller than or the same as right | <= | ≤ | |
| Greater than or equal to | Left is larger than or the same as right | >= | ≥ | |
| Almost equal to | Equal after rounding or estimating | — | ≈ | |
| Identical to | Equal by definition, or congruent in modular arithmetic | — | ≡ | |
| Congruent to | Same shape and size, in geometry | — | ≅ | |
| Similar to | Same shape, or distributed as, in probability | — | ∼ | |
| Proportional to | One quantity scales with the other | — | ∝ |
How to type ≤, ≥, ≠ and ≈ on a keyboard
Copying is quickest, but the common signs have shortcuts. On a Mac with a US keyboard, Option + , types ≤, Option + . types ≥, Option + = types ≠ and Option + X types ≈. On Windows, hold Alt and type 243 on the numeric keypad for ≤, 242 for ≥ and 247 for ≈. In Word, type the hexadecimal code, for example 2260, and press Alt + X to turn it into ≠.
Comparison operators in spreadsheets and code
Programming languages and spreadsheets use ASCII forms in place of these signs. Excel and Google Sheets write not equal as , and less than or equal as = for the other two. The signs on this page are for reading and writing, in notes, labels, headings and documents, rather than for formulas.
Comparison symbol generator
Type a word or a name and the generator sets it between sixteen comparison-sign frames, some of them in bold, italic or script letters. For other mathematical characters, open the Greek symbols page, and see the full symbols library or the FancyTextTool homepage for every set.
Questions about comparison symbols
What is the symbol for not equal to?
≠ is the sign for not equal. In code and spreadsheets it is written != or . The sign is U+2260 in Unicode and the HTML entity ≠ produces it.
What is the difference between ≈ and ≡?
≈ means almost equal, for example after rounding. ≡ means identical by definition or, in modular arithmetic, congruent. They are not interchangeable.
Why do some comparison signs appear as boxes?
The font in use lacks the glyph. Basic signs like ≤ ≥ ≠ ≈ are in nearly every font, while rarer relations from the mathematical operators block may need a font with wide math coverage.
Updated October 28, 2026.