<
Less-than sign
The less-than symbol (<) indicates numerical comparison and logical relationships, fundamental to mathematics, programming, and data analysis across all quantitative fields.
Technical Details
- ASCII Code
- 60
- HTML Entity
- <
- Hexadecimal
- 0x3C
- Binary
- 00111100
- Octal
- 74
Usage & Examples
Programming
char symbol = '<'; // ASCII 60HTML/Web
< or <Common Uses
How to Type This Character
Windows
Mac
💡 Pro tip: The fastest way is to bookmark this page or copy the character from our ASCII library!
Related Characters
About the Less-than sign
Mathematical Comparisons
Essential for expressing numerical relationships and inequalities in mathematics education and research. Forms the foundation for understanding number lines, ordering, and quantitative analysis across all mathematical disciplines.
Programming Logic
Critical for conditional statements, loops, and logical operations in programming languages. Enables decision-making algorithms, data sorting, and computational logic that powers software development and digital systems.
Statistical Analysis
Fundamental for threshold testing, data filtering, and statistical hypothesis testing. Enables researchers to establish significance levels, set criteria, and analyze data relationships in scientific studies.
Html Markup
Serves as the opening delimiter for HTML tags (<div>, <p>, <img>), making it essential for web development and digital content creation. Forms the structural foundation of web markup languages.
History of the Less-than sign
Mathematical Innovation
Thomas Harriot introduced the < and > symbols in 'Artis Analyticae Praxis,' creating the first standardized notation for mathematical inequalities and comparisons.
Educational Adoption
European mathematics curricula adopted inequality symbols, making comparison notation standard in mathematical education and algebraic instruction.
Computer Programming
Early programming languages incorporated < for conditional statements and logical operations, establishing its role in computational logic and algorithm design.
HTML Development
Tim Berners-Lee chose < for HTML tag notation, making the symbol fundamental to web development and internet content structure.
Data Science
Big data and analytics extensively use < for filtering, sorting, and threshold operations, making it essential for modern data analysis and machine learning.
Cultural Impact
The less-than symbol enabled precise quantitative comparison and logical reasoning, supporting mathematical literacy, computer programming, and data-driven decision making in modern society.
Usage Examples
Mathematical Inequalities
ExampleNumber comparison and mathematical relationships
Programming Logic
ExampleConditional statements and loop controls in code
HTML Markup
ExampleWeb development and markup language structure
Data Analysis
ExampleDatabase queries and statistical analysis