Math symbols

< Less-Than Sign

< is called the less-than sign. It is also called left angle bracket, open chevron.

Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the , key with your right middle finger.

The less-than sign means the number on the left is smaller: 3 < 5.

Also called: left angle bracket, open chevron. The less-than sign means the number on the left is smaller: 3 < 5.

How to type <

Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the , key with your right middle finger.

Shift + ,Keys

right middle fingerFinger

left ShiftShift key

L pinkyL ringL middleL pointerthumbsR pointerR middleR ringR pinky

A trick: the open "mouth" always eats the bigger number. Web pages are built with tags inside angle brackets, like <p>.

Fun example: 2 < 7

A trick for < and >: the open side always faces the bigger number, like a hungry mouth. So 3 < 7 reads "3 is less than 7." The key is Shift + comma.

Keyboard (Windows, Mac, Chromebook)	Shift + ,
Phone or tablet	On an iPhone, tap 123 and then #+= to see it. On Android (Gboard), tap ?123 and then =\< if it is not on the first page.
Windows Alt code	Alt + 60 (hold Alt, type the number on the number pad)
Unicode	U+003C
HTML code	`<`

Type the examples below. The keyboard shows which finger and Shift key to use.

Want more? Practice this reach in Lesson 21: All Letters Review, or warm up with typing practice and Falling Words.

What is the < symbol called?

< is called the less-than sign. It is also called left angle bracket, open chevron.

How do you type less-than sign on a keyboard?

Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the , key with your right middle finger.

What does < mean?

The less-than sign means the number on the left is smaller: 3 < 5.