Text Tools
HTML Encoder & Decoder
Encode and decode HTML entities instantly. Convert special characters to HTML entities (<, >, &) or decode HTML entities back to characters with our free HTML encoder decoder tool.
Use HTML Encoder & Decoder to get instant results without uploads or sign-ups. Everything runs securely in your browser for fast, reliable output.
Your results will appear here.
About this tool
Encode text to HTML entities or decode HTML entities back to readable text with our free HTML encoder decoder tool. Convert special characters like <, >, &, ", and ' to their HTML entity equivalents (<, >, &, ", ') for safe display in HTML, or decode HTML entities back to normal characters. Essential for displaying code examples, preventing XSS attacks, safely showing user input, preparing text for HTML attributes, or working with HTML content.
Our HTML encoder offers multiple encoding options: encode only basic HTML-sensitive characters (< > & " '), encode all special characters to named entities where available (©, , €), or encode all special characters to numeric entities (<, >). The decoder handles all entity formats including named entities (&), decimal entities (&), and hexadecimal entities (&), converting them back to their character equivalents.
Essential for web developers displaying code on web pages, content management system users preventing HTML parsing, security professionals preventing XSS vulnerabilities, email template developers encoding special characters, technical writers showing HTML examples, and anyone needing to safely display or work with HTML special characters. The tool ensures your content displays correctly without being interpreted as HTML code.
All encoding and decoding happens securely in your browser - your HTML stays completely private with no server uploads. No registration required, no character limits, works on mobile devices, and functions offline. Free to use unlimited times for all your HTML encoding needs.
Usage examples
Encode HTML Tags for Display
Input (Encode mode): "<div class=\"container\">Hello World</div>"
Output: "<div class="container">Hello World</div>" (Now displays as text instead of being rendered as HTML)
Encode Special Characters
Input (Encode mode): "AT&T costs < $50 & > $30"
Output: "AT&T costs < $50 & > $30" (Ampersands and angle brackets encoded)
Decode HTML Entities
Input (Decode mode): "Copyright © 2024 — All rights reserved"
Output: "Copyright © 2024 — All rights reserved" (Named entities decoded to symbols)
Encode for JavaScript String
Input (Encode mode): "She said \"Hello!\" & waved"
Output: "She said "Hello!" & waved" (Quotes and ampersands safely encoded)
Decode Numeric Entities
Input (Decode mode): "Price: $99 – On Sale!"
Output: "Price: $99 – On Sale!" (Decimal numeric entities decoded to characters)
How to use
- Select mode: Encode (text to HTML entities) or Decode (HTML entities to text)
- Paste or type your text or HTML code into the text area
- Choose encoding level: basic entities only or all special characters
- Click "Run Tool" to encode or decode instantly
- View the converted result with HTML entities or decoded text
- Copy the result to use in your HTML, web page, or application
Benefits
- Instant HTML encoding and decoding
- Encode text to HTML entities for safe display
- Decode HTML entities back to readable text
- Supports named entities (&, <, ©)
- Supports decimal entities (<, &)
- Supports hexadecimal entities (<, &)
- Prevents XSS attacks by encoding user input
- Multiple encoding levels: basic or all characters
- No character limit - encode large documents
- Preserves formatting and line breaks
- One-click copy functionality
- No registration required
- Complete privacy - browser-based
- Free forever with unlimited use
FAQs
What are HTML entities and why do I need them?
HTML entities are special codes that represent characters in HTML. They're needed because some characters like < > & " have special meaning in HTML. Using "<" instead of "<" tells the browser to display the character rather than interpret it as HTML code. This is crucial for displaying code examples, showing user input safely, and preventing security vulnerabilities.
What is the difference between named and numeric entities?
Named entities use memorable names like & for &, < for <, © for ©. Numeric entities use character codes: decimal like & or hexadecimal like &. Named entities are easier to read but only exist for common characters. Numeric entities can represent any character. Our decoder handles both; our encoder lets you choose.
How does HTML encoding prevent XSS attacks?
XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) attacks inject malicious code like "<script>alert('hacked')</script>" into websites. HTML encoding converts < to < and > to >, so the code displays as text instead of executing. This protects websites when displaying user-generated content like comments, reviews, or forum posts.
Should I encode all special characters or just HTML-sensitive ones?
For security and basic HTML display, encoding just HTML-sensitive characters (< > & " ') is sufficient and recommended. Encoding all special characters (including © → ©, spaces → ) is useful for internationalization or when you need exact character representation, but it makes the HTML less readable and larger.
Can I use this for URL encoding?
No, HTML encoding and URL encoding are different. HTML entities (<) are for displaying text in HTML documents. URL encoding (%20 for space, %26 for &) is for putting special characters in URLs. Use a URL encoder tool for encoding URLs and query parameters.
What happens when I decode text without entities?
If you try to decode text that doesn't contain HTML entities, it will remain unchanged. The decoder only converts valid entity patterns like & or <. Plain text passes through unmodified. This makes it safe to run decoder on any text - it won't break text that's already decoded.
Do I need to encode text in HTML attributes?
Yes! Text in HTML attributes (especially values in quotes like <div title="...">") should have quotes encoded to " and ampersands to &. Our tool handles this. For example, <img alt="R&D Department"> displays correctly as an attribute value.
Will encoding affect my HTML file size?
Yes, encoding increases file size because single characters become multi-character entities (& becomes &). For typical text with occasional special characters, the increase is minimal. If encoding everything, files can grow 20-50% larger. Most websites only encode necessary characters for a good size/safety balance.
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