That's the numeric entity for a non-breakng space. is the named entity for the same character.
Not burned-in: Escaping stuff on HN. :)
Anyways, I don't recall the details, but there's was a browser (I think) that didn't recognize the named entity so I had to use the numerical form. And after that I used that form all the time when I needed the forced spacing.
That's the numeric entity for a non-breakng space. is the named entity for the same character.