It converts characters like to < and >.

HTML Encoder / Decoder

Free HTML Encoder/Decoder – Convert HTML Entities Instantly

Introduction

Need to encode or decode HTML entities in your text? Our HTML Encoder/Decoder Tool instantly converts special characters to HTML entities and back. Perfect for web developers, content managers, and anyone working with HTML code who needs to display special characters safely.

This free tool is essential for preventing XSS attacks, displaying code snippets, and ensuring proper character rendering. No manual conversion required – just paste your text and encode or decode instantly.

ℹ️ Did you know? HTML encoding is crucial for web security! Properly encoding user input prevents Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, one of the most common web vulnerabilities.

What is HTML Encoding?

HTML encoding converts special characters into HTML entities – standardized codes that browsers interpret correctly. This prevents characters from being interpreted as HTML code and ensures they display as intended.

📝 Example:

Original Text: <script>alert("Hello")</script>

HTML Encoded: <script>alert("Hello")</script>

Result: Displays as text instead of executing as code

Why HTML Encoding Matters

HTML encoding serves critical purposes:

Security (XSS Prevention)

Encoding user input prevents malicious scripts from executing in browsers, protecting against Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Proper Display

Special characters like <, >, &, and quotes display correctly instead of being interpreted as HTML tags.

Code Display

Show HTML, XML, or code snippets on web pages without them being rendered as actual code.

Data Integrity

Preserve special characters in database storage and transmission without corruption.

💡 Security Tip: Always encode user-generated content before displaying it on your website to prevent XSS vulnerabilities!

Common HTML Entities

Understanding the most frequently used HTML entities:

Essential Characters

< (less than) → <
> (greater than) → >
& (ampersand) → &
" (double quote) → "
' (single quote) → ' or '

Special Characters

© (copyright) → ©
® (registered) → ®
™ (trademark) → ™
€ (euro) → €
£ (pound) → £

Spacing

Non-breaking space →  
Em dash → —
En dash → –

When to Use HTML Encoding

HTML encoding is essential in these scenarios:

User-Generated Content

Comments: Encode user comments before display
Forum Posts: Prevent script injection in discussions
Reviews: Safely display customer feedback
Chat Messages: Encode real-time messages

Code Documentation

Tutorials: Show HTML/XML code examples
API Docs: Display code snippets safely
Technical Blogs: Embed code without execution
Stack Overflow: Share code solutions

📝 Real-World Example:

A blog allows users to post comments. Without encoding:

User Input: <script>alert('Hacked!')</script>

Without Encoding: Script executes on every page load! 🚨

With Encoding: Displays as harmless text ✅

Database Storage

Store special characters without corruption
Preserve formatting in text fields
Maintain data integrity across systems

Email Templates

Encode HTML in email content
Display special characters correctly
Prevent email client rendering issues

HTML Encoding vs. URL Encoding

Understanding the difference:

HTML Encoding

Purpose: Display special characters in HTML documents
Example: < becomes <
Use: Web page content, attributes

URL Encoding

Purpose: Encode characters for URLs
Example: Space becomes %20
Use: Query strings, URL parameters

ℹ️ Important: Use HTML encoding for content display and URL encoding for web addresses. They serve different purposes!

How to Use the Tool

Encoding and decoding is simple:

To Encode

Step 1: Paste your text with special characters
Step 2: Click "Encode"
Step 3: Copy the encoded result
Step 4: Use in your HTML code

To Decode

Step 1: Paste HTML with entities
Step 2: Click "Decode"
Step 3: Copy the decoded text
Step 4: Use the readable text

Security Best Practices

Protect your website with proper encoding:

Always Encode User Input

Never trust user input. Always encode before displaying on your website, even from trusted users.

Context-Aware Encoding

HTML Content: Use HTML entity encoding
HTML Attributes: Encode attribute values
JavaScript: Use JavaScript escaping
URLs: Use URL encoding

Server-Side Encoding

Encode on the server before sending to browsers. Don't rely solely on client-side encoding.

Content Security Policy

Combine encoding with CSP headers for defense-in-depth security.

💡 Security Best Practice: Use a whitelist approach – only allow known-safe characters and encode everything else.

Common Use Cases

HTML encoding applications across industries:

Web Development

Sanitize form inputs
Display user comments safely
Show code examples in documentation
Prevent XSS in web applications

Content Management

CMS content sanitization
Blog post special characters
Product descriptions with symbols
FAQ sections with code

E-commerce

Product names with special chars
Customer review display
Price symbols (€, £, ¥)
Trademark and copyright symbols

Education and Training

Coding tutorials
HTML/CSS course materials
Programming examples
Technical documentation

Understanding XSS Attacks

Why encoding prevents Cross-Site Scripting:

What is XSS?

XSS allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

How Encoding Prevents XSS

By converting < to <, the browser displays it as text instead of interpreting it as a tag opening.

Types of XSS

Stored XSS: Malicious code stored in database
Reflected XSS: Code in URL parameters
DOM-based XSS: Client-side script manipulation

Defense Strategy

Encoding is the first line of defense. Combine with input validation, CSP, and secure coding practices.

Programming Language Support

HTML encoding in popular languages:

PHP

htmlspecialchars($text, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8')

JavaScript

element.textContent = userInput; (auto-encodes)

Python

html.escape(text)

Java

StringEscapeUtils.escapeHtml4(text)

ℹ️ Developer Tip: Most modern frameworks include built-in encoding functions. Always use them instead of manual encoding!

Special Character Handling

Working with international and special characters:

Unicode Characters

Modern HTML supports Unicode. Use UTF-8 encoding for international characters without entities.

Emoji Support

Emojis can be used directly in UTF-8 HTML without encoding (😊, 🎉, ✅).

Mathematical Symbols

Use HTML entities for math symbols: × (×), ÷ (÷), ± (±)

Accented Characters

Can use directly in UTF-8 or encode: é (é), ñ (ñ), ü (ü)

Best Practices for Web Developers

Professional encoding strategies:

Encode Output, Not Input

Store data in original form, encode only when displaying to users.

Use Framework Functions

Leverage built-in encoding functions in your framework (React, Vue, Angular, Laravel, etc.).

Validate AND Encode

Input validation + output encoding = defense in depth.

Test Thoroughly

Test with malicious inputs to ensure encoding works correctly.

💡 Testing Tip: Try inputs like <script>alert('XSS')</script> to verify your encoding is working!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't fall into these encoding traps:

Double Encoding

Wrong: Encoding already-encoded text
Result: &lt; instead of <
Solution: Track encoding state

Forgetting Attributes

Wrong: Only encoding content, not attributes
Vulnerable: <div title="user input">
Solution: Encode attribute values too

Client-Side Only

Wrong: Encoding only in JavaScript
Risk: Bypassed by disabling JavaScript
Solution: Server-side encoding

Incomplete Encoding

Wrong: Only encoding < and >
Missing: Quotes, ampersands
Solution: Encode all special characters

Performance Considerations

Efficient encoding practices:

Cache Encoded Content

For static content, encode once and cache the result.

Batch Processing

Encode multiple strings in one operation when possible.

Lazy Encoding

Only encode content that will be displayed to users.

Privacy and Security

Your data is completely safe:

No Data Storage: We never save your text
Client-Side Processing: All encoding happens in your browser
No Account Required: Use anonymously
Secure Connection: All data transmission is encrypted

Mobile and Cross-Device Usage

Our tool works perfectly on all devices:

Responsive design for smartphones and tablets
Touch-optimized interface
Works offline once loaded
No app installation needed
Perfect for on-the-go encoding

Conclusion

HTML encoding is a fundamental web security practice that protects against XSS attacks while ensuring special characters display correctly. Whether you're a web developer building secure applications, a content manager handling user-generated content, or a blogger displaying code examples, our free HTML encoder/decoder makes it instant and effortless.

With instant encoding and decoding, you have everything you need to keep your website secure and your content displaying properly. No downloads, no registration, and complete privacy. Bookmark this page and use it whenever you need to encode or decode HTML. Start protecting your website today!

HTML Entity Encoder