Multiplication Sign vs Letter X

The multiplication sign (×, U+00D7) is a dedicated mathematical operator that should be used in equations and product dimensions (e.g., 3×4 or 1920×1080), while the letter x (U+0078) is merely a Latin letter used as an informal substitute. Using the letter x in mathematical expressions is technically incorrect typography, even though it is universally understood and common in informal writing. The multiplication X (✕, U+2715) is a heavier, bold-style cross used primarily in UI design for close buttons and cancel actions, not for arithmetic. A related character is the heavy ballot X (✘, U+2718) and the familiar red cross emoji ❌, all of which appear similar but carry different semantic meanings. In HTML, the multiplication sign can be written as the named entity × which improves readability and guarantees correct rendering across encodings.