HTML Encoder/Decoder
Encode and decode HTML entities
HTML Encoder/Decoder
Common HTML Entities
About HTML Entities
HTML entities are used to display reserved characters in HTML. For example, < and > are used instead of < and > to prevent the browser from interpreting them as HTML tags. This tool converts characters to their HTML entity equivalents and vice versa.
Your Privacy is Protected
All processing happens entirely in your browser. No data is stored, transmitted, or tracked. Your information remains completely private and secure on your device.
About HTML Encoder/Decoder
Encode and decode HTML entities instantly with our comprehensive HTML encoder/decoder tool. HTML encoding converts special characters into HTML entities to display them literally on web pages instead of being interpreted as HTML code. Essential for displaying code examples, preventing XSS attacks, handling user-generated content, and working with special characters in HTML documents. Our tool converts characters like <, >, &, and quotes into their corresponding HTML entities (<, >, &, ") and vice versa. Perfect for web developers displaying code on websites, content managers handling special characters, security professionals sanitizing user input, and anyone needing to work with HTML entities. Supports named entities, numeric entities, and all special characters. Bidirectional conversion allows both encoding text to HTML entities and decoding entities back to readable characters.
Key Features
Comprehensive Entity Support
Handles both named entities (<, &, ) and numeric entities (<, &,  ). Supports all standard HTML entities plus extended character sets.
Bidirectional Conversion
Both encode special characters to HTML entities AND decode HTML entities back to normal characters. Switch between modes seamlessly for any workflow.
XSS Prevention Mode
Security-focused encoding that ensures user input can't be executed as HTML or JavaScript. Essential for safely displaying user-generated content on websites.
Code Display Formatting
Perfectly formats HTML, XML, and code snippets for display on web pages. Preserves whitespace and formatting while encoding special characters.
Real-Time Processing
Instant encoding and decoding as you type. See results immediately without delays, perfect for rapid development and content editing.
Special Character Reference
Built-in reference guide showing common HTML entities. Learn entity codes while using the tool for educational and quick lookup purposes.
Batch Processing
Encode or decode large blocks of text, entire articles, or multiple code snippets at once. No character limits for bulk operations.
How to Use HTML Encoder/Decoder
Select Mode
Select Encode mode to convert special characters to HTML entities, or Decode mode to convert HTML entities back to readable characters.
Input Text
Paste or type your text, HTML code, or content in the input area. The tool handles any length of text.
View Result
View the instant encoded or decoded result displayed in the output area. Results appear in real-time as you type.
Encode for Display
For displaying code on web pages, use Encode mode to make HTML tags display literally instead of being rendered.
Decode Entities
For processing content with HTML entities, use Decode mode to convert entities like < and > back to actual < and > characters.
Copy Result
Copy the result to your clipboard with one click using the copy button. The encoded or decoded text is ready to use.
Use in Web Page
Paste the encoded HTML into your web page to display special characters correctly and safely, preventing XSS vulnerabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are HTML entities and why are they used?
HTML entities are special codes that represent characters in HTML. They start with & and end with ;. For example, < represents <, > represents >, and & represents &. They're used because characters like < and > have special meaning in HTML (tags). To display them literally, you must use entities. They're also used for characters not on keyboards (Š, âĸ, âŦ).
What's the difference between named and numeric entities?
Named entities use descriptive names: < (less than), © (copyright). Numeric entities use character codes: < (decimal) or < (hexadecimal). Named entities are more readable but limited to predefined characters. Numeric entities can represent any Unicode character. Our tool supports both formats.
Which characters must be encoded in HTML?
At minimum, encode: < (<), > (>), & (&), " ("), and ' (' or '). These have special meaning in HTML. Additionally, encode characters not in your document's character set, non-breaking spaces ( ), and any character that might cause rendering or security issues.
How does HTML encoding prevent XSS attacks?
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks inject malicious JavaScript into web pages. If user input containing <script> tags is displayed without encoding, the script executes. HTML encoding converts < to < and > to >, so <script> displays as text instead of executing. This neutralizes the attack vector.
Can I encode entire HTML documents?
Yes, but understand the purpose. Encoding an entire HTML document converts all tags to entities, making them display as text rather than rendering as HTML. This is useful for displaying HTML source code on a web page, but not for general HTML processing. Typically, only user input or specific content needs encoding.
What is and when should I use it?
is a non-breaking space - a space that prevents line breaks. Use it to keep words together (like '10 kg' to prevent line breaks between number and unit), create multiple spaces (HTML normally collapses multiple spaces to one), or for specific spacing needs where regular spaces would be collapsed.
Do I need to encode special characters in attributes?
Yes! Always encode quotes in attribute values. If using double quotes for attributes, encode " as " in the value. For single-quoted attributes, encode ' as '. Also encode & as & and < as < in attribute values to prevent parsing errors.
Is HTML encoding the same as URL encoding?
No, they're different. HTML encoding uses entities starting with & and ending with ; (like <). URL encoding uses percent signs followed by hex codes (like %3C). They serve different purposes: HTML encoding for displaying characters in HTML, URL encoding for safely transmitting characters in URLs. Don't confuse them!
Use Cases
- Displaying Code on Web Pages: Show HTML, XML, or code examples on blogs, documentation sites, and tutorials. Encode code snippets so tags display literally instead of being rendered as HTML. Essential for programming blogs and technical documentation.
- Preventing XSS Attacks: Sanitize user input before displaying on web pages. HTML encoding prevents malicious scripts in user comments, forum posts, or form inputs from executing. Critical security practice for any site accepting user content.
- Content Management Systems: Handle special characters in CMS content, ensure quotes and symbols display correctly in articles, and prevent formatting issues when copying content between systems.
- Email Templates and Newsletters: Encode special characters in HTML emails to ensure compatibility across email clients. Prevent rendering issues with quotes, apostrophes, and symbols in email content.
- Data Migration and Cleanup: Clean up improperly encoded text in databases, fix character encoding issues, and standardize special character representation across systems during migrations.