HTML Encoder/Decoder

Common HTML entities

CharNamedNumeric
&&&
<&lt;&#60;
>&gt;&#62;
"&quot;&#34;
'&apos;&#39;
©&copy;&#169;
®&reg;&#174;
&trade;&#8482;
&euro;&#8364;
£&pound;&#163;
¥&yen;&#165;
×&times;&#215;
÷&divide;&#247;
&rarr;&#8594;
&hellip;&#8230;
·&nbsp;&#160;
Pro Features
Batch processingEncode all non-ASCII

About HTML Encoder/Decoder

HTML Encoder/Decoder converts special characters to their HTML entity equivalents and vice versa, preventing rendering issues and cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. It encodes characters like <, >, &, and quotes into safe entity references (&lt;, &gt;, &amp;) and decodes entities back to their original characters. Web developers and content authors use it to safely embed user-generated content, code snippets, and special symbols in HTML pages.

Key Features

  • Encodes all HTML-sensitive characters (<, >, &, ", ') into named or numeric entities
  • Decodes HTML entities back to their original character representations
  • Supports both named entities (&amp;) and numeric entities (&#38;) formats
  • Handles full Unicode character encoding for international symbols and emoji
  • Processes input instantly in the browser without any server communication
  • Provides a quick-reference table of the most commonly used HTML entities

How to Use HTML Encoder/Decoder

  1. 1

    Choose encode or decode mode

    Select whether you want to convert plain text to HTML entities (encode) or convert entities back to readable text (decode).

  2. 2

    Paste your content

    Enter the text containing special characters you want to encode, or the HTML-encoded string you want to decode.

  3. 3

    Click Convert

    Press the Convert button to instantly transform your input between plain text and HTML entity formats.

  4. 4

    Copy the result

    Copy the encoded or decoded output and use it in your HTML source, CMS editor, or template.

Common Use Cases

Preventing XSS Vulnerabilities

Encode user-submitted content before rendering it in HTML to prevent cross-site scripting attacks where malicious script tags could execute in browsers.

Displaying Code Snippets in HTML

Encode HTML, CSS, or JavaScript code examples so they display as visible text on a web page instead of being interpreted as markup by the browser.

CMS Content Troubleshooting

Decode garbled HTML entities that appear when content is double-encoded by a CMS or template engine, restoring the text to its intended appearance.

Special Character Insertion

Convert copyright symbols, trademark signs, mathematical operators, and other special characters into their HTML entity codes for reliable cross-browser rendering.

Why Use Our HTML Encoder/Decoder

Full support for named entities, numeric entities, and Unicode characters means this tool handles edge cases that simpler encoders miss. It is the quickest way to safely prepare user-generated content for HTML without risking XSS vulnerabilities. Everything processes in-browser with no server round-trip, so even sensitive content stays completely private.

Encode Sensitive Content Locally

HTML encoding often involves user-generated content, internal page markup, or CMS data that may include personal information and proprietary copy. This tool converts everything in your browser without any server interaction. Encode and decode freely without worrying about data leakage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between named and numeric HTML entities?
Named entities use descriptive labels like &amp; for & and &lt; for <. Numeric entities use character codes like &#38; and &#60;. Both produce the same result, but named entities are more readable in source code.
When should I encode HTML entities?
You should encode entities whenever you insert dynamic or user-generated content into HTML to prevent the browser from interpreting it as markup. This is critical for security (preventing XSS) and for correctly displaying characters like < and > as text.
Why do I see &amp;amp; in my HTML output?
This is called double encoding and happens when text that already contains HTML entities gets encoded a second time. The & in &amp; gets encoded again to &amp;amp;. Use the decoder to fix this by decoding until the entities resolve to their original characters.

Last updated: April 6, 2026