The greater than symbol (>)
The greater than symbol compares two values and declares a winner: the open side faces the bigger number, the point aims at the smaller. This page copies the sign and its close family, shows the comparison in maths, coding and everyday text, and settles the one confusion that follows it everywhere โ greater than versus greater-than-or-equal.
Copy the comparison signs
Comparisons ready to copy
How to read it (and never flip it)
Read left to right: “7 > 4” says seven is greater than four โ the everyday more than symbol doing its one job. The classroom memory trick still works: the sign is a hungry mouth (or an alligator) that always opens toward the larger meal, so the wide side faces the winner. If you ever doubt a line, say it aloud โ the sentence must stay true.
The greater than and less than symbols together
| Sign | Reads | True example | Equal allowed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| > | greater than | 9 > 5 | No โ strictly greater |
| < | less than | 5 < 9 | No โ strictly less |
| โฅ | greater than or equal to | 9 โฅ 9 | Yes โ equality counts |
| โค | less than or equal to | 5 โค 5 | Yes โ equality counts |
| ≫ | much greater than | 1000 ≫ 3 | No โ and the gap is large |
Guides usually teach the greater than less than symbols as a pair because they are one shape flipped: learn the mouth rule once and both directions behave. The bar underneath (โฅ, โค) is the whole difference between “strictly” and “or equal” โ in requirements and thresholds (“age โฅ 18”), that bar decides who qualifies.
> beyond maths
| World | What > does there |
|---|---|
| Programming | Comparison operator: if (score > 50) โ plus >=, == and != as its siblings; in C-family languages >> is also the right-shift operator |
| HTML | Must be escaped as > inside text, because a raw > helps close tags |
| Command line | > redirects output into a file (and >> appends) โ overwriting without asking |
| Everyday text | Doubles as a chevron or arrow: menus write Settings > Privacy > Security for the path through screens |
Typing it
The keyboard route is one key: Shift + . (full stop) on US/UK layouts gives >, and Shift + , gives its partner <. In Word there is no code needed; in HTML write >. The or-equal forms need the copy route or codes: โฅ is 2265 then Alt + X in Word (HTML ≥), โค is 2264 Alt + X (HTML ≤).
Explore more
The full operator family lives on the math symbols hub, and every sign’s name is listed in the symbol names and meanings guide. The boundary-including partner sign has its own page: the greater than or equal symbol โ every ‘at least’ rule in one place. Inequality has its own sign next door: the not equal symbol, with the forms maths, code and Excel each use.
Frequently asked questions
Which side does the bigger number go on?
The open side: 9 > 5. The sign’s mouth opens to the larger value and its point touches the smaller โ read the sentence aloud to check.
What is the difference between > and โฅ?
> excludes equality (5 > 5 is false); โฅ includes it (5 โฅ 5 is true). The underline is the entire difference.
Is > the same as an arrow?
In menus and paths it plays the arrow’s role (Home > Settings), but formally it is a comparison sign; the true arrows (โ, ยป) live on their own pages.
How do I type โฅ on Windows?
No standard Alt code โ copy it here, or in Word type 2265 and press Alt + X. On Mac, the Character Viewer carries it.
Why does > appear twice in code (>>)?
Different job, same glyphs: in C-like languages >> shifts bits right; in shells it appends output to a file. Context, as always, decides.