Curious about the meaning of the emoticon <3? You've come to the right place! This heart symbol can appear anywhere—on Facebook, Instagram, or even in text messages. In this article, we'll share everything you need to know about the <3 emoticon, from its meaning to how to use it.
Steps
What does the emoticon <3 (heart) mean?

The emoticon <3 on social media symbolizes love. This adorable icon is most commonly used when discussing romantic relationships, friendships, or passions in messages or social media posts. People often use <3 to replace the word 'love' in a sentence or to convey warm feelings toward someone or something.
- 'I <3 Da Lat!'
- 'Chocolate chip cookies can turn an ordinary day into a joyful one <3'
- 'Her red carpet dress is absolutely stunning! <3'
How to use the emoticon <3 (heart) on social media

Replace the word 'love' with the emoticon <3. Why write out a word when you can use an adorable symbol instead? If you want to keep your messages and social media captions short and sweet, use <3 in place of 'love.'
- 'I <3 chocolate!'
- 'I <3 you more than words can say.'

Send a <3 emoticon to your loved one. This simple symbol represents all shades of love, including its imperfect aspects. Try using <3 instead of the ❤️ emoji to tell your partner or crush that you love them enough to type two symbols instead of one.
- 'Happy Valentine's Day <3'
- 'I love you endlessly <3'

Show empathy with a <3 emoticon. A <3 can let someone know you care about them. If a friend is going through a tough time, send them a <3 to say, 'I care about you.'
- 'You're not alone <3'
- 'I'm always here for you <3'
Variations of the emoticon <3 (heart)

The emoticon </3 symbolizes a broken heart. Someone feeling heartbroken or disappointed might use </3 to express their emotions. This variation of the classic <3 includes a slash / to represent a crack in the heart, essentially serving as a simpler version of the 💔 emoji.
- 'She called to break up with me </3'
- 'My heart aches for those who lost loved ones </3'

An emoticon <3 with additional 3s conveys boundless love. Instead of typing <3<3<3<3, people use <3333 to describe overwhelming affection. This variant mimics multiple heart emoticons or the 💗 emoji.
- 'Could you be any cuter? <333'
- 'I think I'm in love! <33333'

The emoticon <2 represents love that hasn't quite reached <3 levels. If someone uses <2, they might not be ready to say 'I love you.' It’s akin to expressing 'I like you' or 'I have feelings for you.'
- 'You're pretty awesome! <2'
- 'Maybe we should hang out again sometime <2'

The emoticon <4 signifies love greater than <3. This variation is like shouting, 'I love you more than anything!' Their love is so immense that the standard <3 can't fully capture it.
- 'You mean the world to me <4'
- 'Honestly, I'm completely enchanted by you <4'