Adding HTML entities using CSS content

Adding HTML entities using CSS content: A Guide to Fix the Printing Issue

The CSS content property allows you to create dynamic content and display it on your webpage. But what if you want to add HTML entities, like a non-breaking space, using this property? 🤔

You might have tried using the   entity, just like the example below:

.breadcrumbs a:before {
  content: ' ';
}

However, rather than displaying the desired non-breaking space, it prints the literal string   to the screen. 😫

The Problem: Printing HTML Entities as Literal Strings

The issue here is that the CSS content property treats the value within quotes as a literal string instead of parsing it as HTML entities. This is the reason why you see   instead of a non-breaking space.

The Solution: Escaping Special Characters

To solve this problem and actually display HTML entities using CSS content, you need to escape the special characters by using a backslash (\) before them. Let's take a look at how you can fix the example above:

.breadcrumbs a:before {
  content: '\00a0';
}

In this solution, \00a0 represents the Unicode code point for a non-breaking space. By using this escape sequence, the CSS engine can correctly interpret the value and render it as a non-breaking space. 🎉

Bonus Tip: Other HTML Entity Examples

Here are some more examples of HTML entities and their corresponding escape sequences:

• < (less than symbol): \003c

• > (greater than symbol): \003e

• © (copyright symbol): \00a9

• ® (registered trademark symbol): \00ae

Feel free to explore the complete list of HTML entities and their escape sequences to add various special characters to your CSS content.

Share Your Experiences and Join the Real Talk! 💬

Have you ever encountered this issue while using CSS content to add HTML entities? What other challenges have you faced in your coding journey? Let's discuss and find solutions together! Share your thoughts, stories, and questions in the comments section below. 👇

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