How do you make a copyright symbol in HTML?

In HTML, there are a few different ways to make a copyright symbol ©. The most common methods are using the HTML entity, Unicode character code, or image. Choosing the right method depends on your specific needs and browser compatibility requirements.

Table of Contents

Using the HTML Copyright Entity

The easiest way to add a copyright symbol in HTML is to use the HTML entity © This displays the © symbol in all major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc. To use it, simply add © to your HTML code:

<p>Copyright &copy; 2023 My Website</p>

When displayed in a browser, it will show the copyright symbol:

The advantage of using the HTML entity is that it’s very simple and widely compatible. The only downside is that some screen readers may read out the full text “©” instead of pronouncing it as “copyright”.

Using the Unicode Character Code

Another way is to use the Unicode character code for the copyright symbol. The Unicode code is U+00A9. To use it, you add © to your HTML:

<p>Copyright © 2023 My Website</p>

When displayed, it will show the same © symbol:

The benefit of the Unicode code is that it will be properly pronounced by screen readers. The downside is that some older browsers may not support it properly.

Using an Image

You can also display a copyright symbol by linking to an image asset containing the © image. For example:

<img src="copyright.png" alt="Copyright" /> 
2023 My Website

The advantage of using an image is maximum compatibility. The downside is that it requires an extra asset file and may not look as sharp as text.

Copyright Symbol in CSS

In addition to HTML, you can also add a copyright symbol using CSS. This is useful for applying a copyright symbol to specific elements.

For example, to add a copyright icon before links in the footer:

footer a::before {
  content: "\00A9"; 
}

When displayed, all links in the footer will show a small © icon before the text.

So in summary, the main options for adding a copyright symbol in HTML are:

HTML Entity – ©
Unicode Character Code – ©

Image Asset
CSS Content Property

For most uses, the HTML entity © is recommended as it has the widest compatibility with minimal effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make the copyright symbol show correctly across all browsers and devices?

For maximum compatibility, use both the HTML entity © and Unicode character © together:

<p>Copyright &copy; © 2023 My Website</p>

This will display properly on the widest range of browsers and devices.

Can I use the copyright symbol in text content?

Yes, you can use © or © within ordinary text content, like:

<p>All content on this site is &copy; My Company 2023.</p>

This will display the copyright symbol within flowing text.

Is there a keyboard shortcut to type the symbol?

On Windows, you can hold ALT and type 0169 on the numeric keypad to insert ©. On Mac, hold Option and press G.

Can I use the copyright symbol in HTML meta tags?

Absolutely. For example, in the HTML head:

<meta name="copyright" content="&copy; My Company">

This will add copyright information that search engines can detect.

Copyright Symbol in Other Platforms

In addition to HTML, you may need to add a copyright symbol in other platforms and document types:

Microsoft Word

– On Windows, hold down ALT and type 0169 on the numeric keypad
– On Mac, hold down Option and press G

Microsoft Excel

– Windows: ALT + 0169
– Mac: Option + G

PowerPoint

– Windows: ALT + 0169
– Mac: Option + G

Google Docs

– Use the special characters palette and search for “copyright”

Markdown

Platform	Copyright Shortcut
Windows	ALT + 0169
Mac	Option + G
HTML	© or ©
Microsoft Word	ALT + 0169 (Windows) or Option + G (Mac)
Excel	ALT + 0169 (Windows) or Option + G (Mac)
PowerPoint	ALT + 0169 (Windows) or Option + G (Mac)
Google Docs	Special Characters Palette
Markdown	`©`

Copyright Symbol on Mobile and Web

On mobile devices and web interfaces like social media, you may not have access to the ALT or Option keyboard shortcuts.

In these cases, you have a few options to add a copyright symbol:

On iOS, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement and create a shortcut cc that autocorrects to © when typed.
On Android, download a special copyright symbol keyboard from the Play Store.
On social media websites, look for a copyright button in the text formatting options.

So although it may take an extra step, you can add the copyright symbol on mobile and web using replacement shortcuts, special keyboards, or copy-pasting the symbol.

Copyright Symbol in Code Editors

In code editors like Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, and Atom, you can type a copyright symbol a few ways:

Use the menu to find a copyright symbol icon to click/insert

So look through your code editor’s menu, settings, or extensions to find options for adding a copyright insertion shortcut.

Conclusion

To summarize, there are a variety of options for adding a copyright symbol in HTML and other platforms:

Image Asset

CSS Content
Keyboard Shortcuts like ALT + 0169 on Windows
Special Characters Palette in Word, Excel, Google Docs, etc.

Replacement Shortcuts on Mobile
Copy-Paste from Websites

For maximum compatibility, use both the HTML entity and Unicode character code. This will display properly across all browsers and devices when viewing your HTML web pages.

On desktop platforms, use ALT/Option keyboard shortcuts to quickly insert the symbol into documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

And on mobile devices, leverage text replacements, special keyboards, or copy-pasting to add a copyright symbol when needed.

With all these options, you should be able to properly add a © symbol on both web and desktop platforms for copyright notices and branding purposes.