Question
Answer and Explanation
Seeing question marks (�) in your HTML code, especially where you expect to see special characters, is usually due to character encoding issues. Here's a breakdown of why this happens and how to fix it:
1. Character Encoding Mismatch:
- The most common reason is a mismatch between the character encoding used to save your HTML file and the encoding your browser uses to interpret it. For example, if your file is saved in UTF-8 but the browser is trying to read it as ISO-8859-1, special characters like accented letters, symbols, or non-Latin characters will be displayed as question marks.
2. Missing or Incorrect Meta Tag:
- HTML documents should specify their character encoding using a meta tag in the <head> section. If this tag is missing or incorrect, the browser might default to an incorrect encoding.
3. Incorrect File Encoding:
- The text editor you use to create or edit your HTML file might not be saving it with the correct encoding. Ensure your editor is set to save files in UTF-8, which is the most widely compatible encoding.
4. Database or Server Issues:
- If your HTML content is being generated dynamically from a database or server-side script, the encoding might be getting corrupted during the process. Ensure that your database and server are also configured to use UTF-8.
5. Copy-Pasting Issues:
- Copying text from different sources can sometimes introduce encoding issues. If you copy text from a source that uses a different encoding, it might not display correctly in your HTML.
How to Fix It:
- Set the Correct Meta Tag: Add the following meta tag inside the <head> section of your HTML document:
<meta charset="UTF-8">
- Save Files in UTF-8: Configure your text editor to save files using UTF-8 encoding. Most modern editors have this option in their settings.
- Check Database and Server Settings: If your content is dynamic, ensure that your database and server are configured to use UTF-8.
- Avoid Copy-Pasting Issues: When copying text, try pasting it as plain text first to avoid carrying over any encoding issues.
By addressing these points, you should be able to resolve the issue of question marks appearing in your HTML code and ensure that special characters are displayed correctly.