Less Than Symbol Copy and Paste (<)
Less than sign
Unicode U+003C · HTML < · Alt code Alt+60
Tap any symbol to copy it. Each tap also adds it to the box above, so you can copy several together.
Codes for every symbol on this page (Unicode, HTML, Alt, Mac, Word)
| Symbol | Name | Unicode | HTML | Windows Alt code | Mac | MS Word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| < | Less than sign | U+003C | < | Alt+60 | - | 003C then Alt+X |
| ＜ | Fullwidth less than | U+FF1C | ＜ | - | - | FF1C then Alt+X |
| ≪ | Much less than | U+226A | ≪ | - | - | 226A then Alt+X |
| ⋖ | Less than with dot | U+22D6 | ⋖ | - | - | 22D6 then Alt+X |
| ≤ | Less than or equal | U+2264 | ≤ | Alt+243 | Option+Comma | 2264 then Alt+X |
The less than symbol is <, and it shows that the value on its left is smaller than the value on its right. For example, 2 < 7 is read as "two is less than seven". You may also hear it called the smaller than symbol, the lesser than symbol, or just the less symbol.
Copy < from the big box at the top of this page, or tap any symbol in the grid, such as ≪ or ≤. This page explains how to read the sign, how to type it on a laptop and phone, how it is used in HTML and chats, and gives plenty of worked examples. For the full family of signs, visit our maths symbols collection.
Meaning of the < Symbol
The symbol of less than looks like a small beak opening to the right: <. The pointed end touches the smaller number and the open end faces the bigger one. In 4 < 11, the tip points at 4 because 4 is the smaller value.
Whether you call it the less than sign symbol or the lesser symbol, it is the same mark. The sign is always read from left to right:
- 4 < 11: four is less than eleven.
- a < b: a is less than b, or a is smaller than b.
- Hindi: 4, 11 se chhota hai (छोटा है). This is why people search for the less than symbol in Hindi or the "less than ka symbol". In many Hindi-medium books it is called "se kam" or "se chhota" ka chinh.
Its Unicode name is Less-Than Sign (U+003C). It has a partner that faces the other way, the greater than symbol >. Both signs say the same fact from different sides: 4 < 11 and 11 > 4 are equally true.
How to Type the Less Than Symbol
- Laptop or desktop (Windows and Mac): hold Shift and press the comma key ,. This works on most English keyboard layouts used in India.
- Windows Alt code: with Num Lock on, hold Alt and type 60 on the numeric keypad.
- Microsoft Word: type
003Cand press Alt+X. Word turns the code into <. - Excel and Google Sheets: Shift + comma. In a formula it compares numbers, for example
=A2<35. - Google Docs: Shift + comma, or Insert > Special characters and search for "less".
- Android: on most Android keyboards, tap ?123, then the =\< key to see <.
- iPhone: tap 123, then #+=; the < key is in the lower rows.
The variants ≪ and ⋖ in the grid have no standard Alt code. Tap them in the grid to copy, or use the Word code from the info table above.
Less Than Symbol Examples
Work through these examples. In each one, ask yourself: which number is smaller, and is the tip pointing at it?
| Statement | Read as | Check |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 < 1 | half is less than one | Any proper fraction or decimal between 0 and 1 is less than 1 |
| 7 < 10 | seven is less than ten | Every single-digit number is less than 10 |
| 3 < 5 | three is less than five | 3 comes before 5 when counting |
| 19 < 20 | nineteen is less than twenty | Just one short |
| −8 < −2 | minus eight is less than minus two | −8 is further left on the number line |
| 1/5 < 1/3 | one-fifth is less than one-third | Same top number, bigger bottom number means a smaller piece |
| 2.09 < 2.9 | 2.09 is less than 2.9 | Compare 2.09 with 2.90; 9 hundredths is less than 90 hundredths |
Phrases like "less than 50" or "less than 100"
When a notice says "less than 50", it means 49, 48.5 and so on, but not 50 itself. Written in symbols:
- Less than 1 symbol form: x < 1
- Less than 10 symbol form: x < 10
- Less than 30: x < 30, for example "parcels < 30 kg"
- Less than 100: x < 100, for example "files < 100 KB"
If the limit itself is allowed, use the less than or equal to symbol ≤ instead.
Not Less Than Symbol
"Not less than" is a common phrase in Indian exam rules and job forms. It means "this value or more". So the not less than symbol in practice is ≥.
- "Attendance not less than 75%" means attendance ≥ 75%.
- "Age not less than 21 years" means age ≥ 21.
- "Marks not less than 40 in each subject" means marks ≥ 40.
A separate character ≮ (less-than with a stroke) also exists, but it is uncommon in school maths. Most teachers and forms will expect ≥, which you can copy from the greater than or equal to symbol page.
The < Symbol in HTML, Chats and LaTeX
Outside maths, the < sign has some special jobs.
- HTML tags: every tag on a web page begins with <, as in
<h1>or<table>. Because of this, a browser may hide a plain < in your text. To show it safely, write<in the code. - HTML comments: notes for developers are wrapped like
<!-- check this later -->. The browser does not display them. - Text heart: in chats, <3 is a sideways heart (turn your head left to see it). People write "miss you <3". For real heart characters, see the heart symbols page.
- Back arrows: <- or <= can work as a quick arrow in plain notes.
- LaTeX: type < directly inside maths mode, such as
$2 < 7$. Use\llfor ≪ and\leqfor ≤.
Less Than Variants: ＜, ≪ and ⋖
| Symbol | Name | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| < | Less-than sign | Everyday maths, Excel, programming |
| ＜ | Fullwidth less-than | Chinese and Japanese typing; looks wider |
| ≪ | Much less than | Science, when a value is tiny compared to another, like the mass of an ant ≪ mass of an elephant |
| ⋖ | Less than with dot | Specialised maths notation |
| ≤ | Less than or equal to | Limits that include the end value |
Do not use the angle-shaped quote ‹ in place of <. They look alike in some fonts but calculators, Excel and code will not treat ‹ as a comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What is the symbol for less than?
The symbol for less than is <. Put the smaller number on the left, where the point is: 6 < 9 means six is less than nine.
Is the smaller than symbol the same as the less than symbol?
Yes. "Smaller than", "lesser than" and "less than" all describe the same sign, <. Teachers usually say "less than" when reading it aloud.
How do you type < on a keyboard?
Press Shift and the comma key together. On a full keyboard you can also hold Alt and type 60 on the number pad with Num Lock switched on.
What does <3 mean in a message?
<3 is a heart drawn with two keys: the less than sign and the number 3. It is a friendly or loving sign-off in chats and comments.
How do you remember which way the less than sign goes?
Tilt your left hand: the < sign looks a bit like a slanted letter L, and L stands for Less. The greater than and less than symbol page has more memory tricks.
Is −10 less than −1?
Yes, −10 < −1. A bigger negative number is actually smaller, because it lies further to the left of zero on the number line.