HTML Entity Encoder and Decoder
Description
Encode or decode special characters into HTML entities to prevent XSS vulnerabilities or render formatted text safely in web content.
About HTML Entity Encoder and Decoder
When you want to display code, user input, or special symbols inside a web page, raw characters like angle brackets and ampersands can break your markup or open the door to injection attacks. This tool encodes those characters into HTML entities and decodes entities back into plain text. It runs entirely in your browser, so the content you paste stays on your machine.
How to use
- Paste the text or HTML snippet you want to process into the input area.
- Choose Encode to turn special characters into HTML entities, or Decode to turn entities back into characters.
- Review the converted output.
- Copy the result into your template, documentation, or HTML source.
Examples
| Example | Input | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Encode an HTML tag | <a> | <a> |
| Encode an ampersand | Tom & Jerry | Tom & Jerry |
Frequently asked questions
Which characters get encoded?
The key characters are < as <, > as >, & as &, double quote as ", and single quote as '. Encoding these prevents the browser from interpreting them as markup.
How does HTML entity encoding help prevent XSS?
By converting characters like < and > into entities, the browser displays them as literal text instead of executing them as tags or scripts. Encoding untrusted input before inserting it into a page is a core defense against XSS.
What is the difference between encoding and decoding?
Encoding replaces special characters with their HTML entity equivalents so they render safely as text. Decoding does the reverse, turning entities such as < back into the original characters like <.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. Encoding and decoding happen locally in your browser, so the text and HTML you paste are never transmitted to a server.