HTML Encoder / Decoder
Convert between plain text and HTML entities to safely display content on the web.
About HTML Entities
Encoding replaces special characters like <, >, & with entities so browsers display them as text.
About this HTML Encoder/Decoder
Encode and decode HTML entities and special characters safely. HTML encoding converts special characters like <, >, &, and quotes into their HTML entity equivalents (like <, >, &), making text safe for display in HTML. Essential for web developers, content creators, and anyone working with HTML content that needs to display special characters correctly.
Key Features
Encode special characters to HTML entities
Decode HTML entities back to readable text
Handle all standard HTML entities (named and numeric)
Encode quotes, brackets, ampersands, and other special characters
Real-time encoding and decoding
Copy encoded or decoded text to clipboard
Support for Unicode characters
Works entirely in your browser for privacy
How to Use
Enter or paste the HTML text you want to encode or decode
Click 'Encode' to convert special characters to HTML entities
Click 'Decode' to convert HTML entities back to readable text
View the result in the output field
Use the copy button to copy the encoded or decoded text
Switch between encode and decode modes as needed
Popular Use Cases
Encode user input before displaying in HTML to prevent XSS attacks
Decode HTML entities from APIs or databases for display
Prepare text content for safe HTML insertion
Encode special characters in HTML attributes
Decode HTML entities in email content
Encode code examples for display in documentation
Handle international characters in HTML content
Prepare content for RSS feeds and XML documents
Tips & Best Practices
Always encode user-generated content before displaying in HTML
HTML encoding helps prevent XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) attacks
Common entities: < (<), > (>), & (&), " ("), ' (')
Numeric entities like A represent characters by code point
Decode HTML entities when processing content from external sources
Use encoding when inserting text into HTML attributes
Remember that HTML encoding is different from URL encoding
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HTML encoding?
HTML encoding converts special characters into HTML entities. For example, < becomes < and & becomes &. This prevents browsers from interpreting these characters as HTML code.
When should I encode HTML?
Encode HTML when displaying user-generated content, inserting text into HTML attributes, or when you need to display characters that have special meaning in HTML (<, >, &, quotes).
What's the difference between encoding and escaping?
HTML encoding and escaping are often used interchangeably. Both convert special characters to HTML entities to make them safe for display in HTML.
Can HTML encoding prevent XSS attacks?
Yes, HTML encoding user input before displaying it helps prevent XSS attacks by ensuring that malicious scripts are displayed as text rather than executed as code.