CSS provides a useful content property for adding small visual symbols before or after HTML elements. One common technique is using Unicode escape codes such as \25C6 to display the ◆ diamond symbol. This method is useful for Blogger menus, navigation links, lists, buttons and decorative elements. Instead of manually adding a symbol to every link, CSS can generate it automatically through the ::before or ::after pseudo-element. This guide explains CSS Unicode input and output, shows useful examples, and explains how to use these codes correctly. It also covers the difference between CSS Unicode escapes and HTML character references, making it easier for beginners to use symbols in websites and Blogger templates.
CSS Unicode Symbols: Complete Input and Output Guide
When you see CSS code such as content:"\25C6";, the \25C6 part is a Unicode escape sequence. It tells the browser which Unicode character should be displayed.
What Does content:"\25C6"; Mean?
The code contains three important parts:
content:"\25C6";
content: tells CSS what content should be generated.
\25C6: is the Unicode escape sequence for the ◆ symbol.
; ends the CSS declaration.
content:"\25C6";
CSS Unicode Input and Output Codes
CSS can use hexadecimal Unicode escape values to display many common symbols. The following examples are useful for menus, lists, links and website design.
| CSS Input | Output |
|---|---|
\25C6 |
◆ |
\25C7 |
◇ |
\2022 |
• |
\25A0 |
■ |
\25A1 |
□ |
\25B2 |
▲ |
\25BC |
▼ |
\25C0 |
◀ |
\25B6 |
▶ |
\2605 |
★ |
\2606 |
☆ |
\2713 |
✓ |
\2714 |
✔ |
\2717 |
✗ |
\2718 |
✘ |
\2192 |
→ |
\2190 |
← |
\2191 |
↑ |
\2193 |
↓ |
\00A9 |
© |
\00AE |
® |
\2122 |
™ |
\2764 |
❤ |
CSS Unicode Examples
Diamond Symbol
.post-link:before{
content:"\25C6";
color:red;
}
Output: ◆ Example Post Link
Arrow Symbol
.post-link:before{
content:"\25B6";
color:red;
}
Output: ▶ Example Post Link
Check Mark
.post-link:before{
content:"\2714";
color:red;
}
Output: ✔ Verified Information
Star Symbol
.post-link:before{
content:"\2605";
color:red;
}
Output: ★ Featured Article
How to Use CSS Unicode Codes
The easiest method is to combine the ::before pseudo-element with the CSS content property.
For example, create your links like this:
<div class="post-links">
<a href="post-url">First Article</a>
<a href="post-url">Second Article</a>
<a href="post-url">Third Article</a>
</div>
Then add this CSS:
.post-links a:before{
content:"\25C6";
color:red;
margin-right:6px;
font-size:10px;
}
The browser automatically places the red ◆ symbol before every link.
How to Use CSS Unicode in Blogger
If you are using Blogger, you can place the CSS inside your article's <style> section or in the theme's CSS area.
For example:
<div class="post-links">
<a href="POST-URL">Post Title One</a>
<a href="POST-URL">Post Title Two</a>
<a href="POST-URL">Post Title Three</a>
</div>
This approach means you do not have to manually type the ◆ symbol before every link.
CSS Unicode vs HTML Entity
| Method | Input |
|---|---|
| CSS Unicode | content:"\25C6"; |
| HTML Character | ◆ |
| HTML Entity | ◆ |
The important difference is that \25C6 is intended for CSS Unicode escaping, while ◆ is an HTML numeric character reference. They should be used in their appropriate contexts.
Why Use \25C6?
Using a CSS Unicode escape can be useful when the symbol is purely decorative. You can change its color, size, spacing and position using CSS without changing the actual text of the link.
.post-links a:before{
content:"\25C6";
color:red;
font-size:9px;
margin-right:7px;
}
How to Add a Red ◆ Before Every Link
If you want every link inside a specific section to have a red diamond, use this:
.my-links a:before{
content:"\25C6";
color:red;
margin-right:6px;
}
HTML:
<div class="my-links">
<a href="#">Article One</a>
<a href="#">Article Two</a>
<a href="#">Article Three</a>
</div>
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does \25C6 mean in CSS?
\25C6 is a CSS Unicode escape sequence used to display the ◆ black diamond symbol.
What is the output of content:"\25C6";?
The output is the ◆ diamond symbol when the CSS declaration is used correctly.
Can I change the color of the Unicode symbol?
Yes. Use the CSS color property. For example, color:red; displays the symbol in red.
Can I use Unicode symbols before Blogger links?
Yes. You can use the ::before pseudo-element and content property to add decorative symbols automatically.
Why is the Unicode code showing as text?
This normally happens when CSS syntax is placed in normal HTML text or when an HTML entity is used in the wrong context. Make sure the code is placed inside the correct CSS declaration.
Is \25C6 an HTML code?
No. \25C6 is a CSS Unicode escape. The visible character is ◆, while its HTML numeric character reference is ◆.
Final Takeaway
The CSS code content:"\25C6"; generates the ◆ black diamond symbol. It is especially useful with ::before and ::after when you want to add small decorative symbols to links, menus or lists without placing the symbol directly into every HTML element.
For Blogger users, the same technique can be used to create compact link sections, navigation elements and automatically styled recommended-post widgets. The key is to keep CSS Unicode escapes inside CSS declarations and HTML character references inside HTML where appropriate.