HTML Entities Encoder / Decoder
Safely convert between raw HTML and encoded strings. Useful for developers handling user-generated content or HTML in JavaScript/React. Select encode or decode mode, and paste your text below.
What is an HTML Entities Encoder/Decoder?
An HTML Entities Encoder/Decoder tool helps developers convert special characters like <, >, &, and quotes into safe HTML entity codes (such as < or>). Encoding is useful when you need to display code or user input on a webpage without executing it. Decoding reverses the process, turning encoded entities back into readable text or HTML.
Why Do You Need HTML Entity Encoding?
- Prevents XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) vulnerabilities
- Ensures special symbols display correctly on webpages
- Safely show code snippets in documentation or blogs
- Improves browser compatibility for HTML content
When Should You Decode HTML Entities?
Decoding HTML entities is essential when retrieving or displaying stored HTML content, such as from databases or APIs. It ensures text like& is shown as &, improving user readability. This is common in CMS systems, JavaScript frameworks, and form submissions.
Common Encoded Characters
| Character | Entity Name | Entity Number |
|---|---|---|
| < | < | < |
| > | > | > |
| & | & | & |
| " | " | " |
| ' | ' | ' |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are HTML entities?
HTML entities are codes used to represent reserved characters in HTML that might otherwise be interpreted as code. For example,< represents a less-than sign.
2. How do I encode HTML entities in JavaScript?
You can use this tool or use textContent or DOM-based escaping to safely encode user input.
3. Why should developers encode HTML before rendering user input?
To prevent malicious users from injecting scripts or markup that could break your layout or cause security risks like XSS.