Couple of questions

[Webstuff]

First of all;

If you're using characters codes as opposed to the character itself (ampersand symbol, followed by the characters name, ended with a semi-colon) on a page, how do search engines (mainly Google and Yahoo) translate the character? Do they simply count it as &code;, or do they count it as the character it represents / its nearest english equivalent?

...nope, I've forgotten the second question. I'll add it when I remember.

[Richard Conyard]

All major engines treat is at the character for search purposes.

They may display the code in any description though if it's odd.

[epiphany]

A HTML page is stored on a server, your internet browser interprets that html from the server and then displays it on your monitor screen. Search engines also interpret the html code in the same way then turning it into valid characters before running their algorithms. Hence you don't need to worry :)

[Webstuff]

Thanks both of you ;)

It's never been something I've though about before, but I've just been working with foreign languages on a website (so lots of characters codes!).

[Richard Conyard]

Have you remembered your other question?

[Webstuff]

Nope, though I'm pretty sure that was the most important one :(