HTML Tools
HTML Encoder / Decoder
Encode plain text into HTML entities or decode HTML entities back to readable text. Handles all standard HTML special characters including ampersands, quotes, angle brackets and more. Useful for safe display of user-generated content.
About the HTML Encoder / Decoder
Encode text so it renders safely inside HTML — converts special characters like <, >, & and " to their named HTML entities. Decode does the reverse — turns entities back to readable text.
Encoding is essential before inserting user input into HTML to prevent XSS (cross-site scripting). Decoding is useful when you receive HTML-escaped content and need to read it as plain text.
Frequently asked questions
What are HTML entities?
HTML entities are sequences that represent reserved or special characters in HTML. For example, & becomes &, < becomes <, > becomes > and " becomes ". They ensure the browser displays the character rather than interpreting it as HTML.
When should I encode HTML?
Always encode user-generated content before inserting it into HTML to prevent XSS (cross-site scripting) attacks. Also encode when you need to display code snippets or HTML source on a page.