What does <3 mean?

I see this symbol fairly often and I haven't figured it out. What does <3 stand for or symbolize?
Thanks, and too all
Good Luck!!

I think in math '<' means 'less than' - so less than 3 ?, not sure - or it can mean 'after' so after 3.

<3 love its a heart

Thanks, amblessed, thats what I originally thought, but I think nariisrad got what I was after.

Thanks nariisrad!
I learned from Babyangel22 that ♥ can be made by typing
&hea rts; but without the space between the 'a' and the 'e'
At least I think that's right. I'll find out after I hit the post button ...

Right, that is how!! (don't forget the SEMI-colon)
Good Luck!! and thanks

It's a heart
=)

&hearts:

its not working

dilz, it's a
;
not
:

try again!

♥

its a heart babe lol.
<333333333333333333333

♥ hehehe!

Also I've heard:
♣
&diamonds;
♠ as well as ♥

Good Luck!!

Opps, guess not diamonds.

I just did those by pressing alt + 3
♥
Yay it worked!
♥

Hehe, both of them do. But I think Alt and 3 is easier.

alt + 3
♥

WOW. And it shows up right away.
Thanks. I can send my g/f all sorts of love.

turn your head to the side, it's a heart :] <3

♥

Heh, cool!

♥
♥

less than three. or...that cheezy heart thing cool people use in text or whatever...
XD

&heart;

just checking

if you press alt, then any number on the side jey pad thing, it can make cool symbols ;
ƒ=alt 1159, ±= alt 753, Ò= alt 7139

hehe ♥

♥
Yay for hearts.