HTML Entity Encoder / Decoder
Encode and decode HTML entities securely
Input Text / Code
Result
Encode and Decode HTML Entities Securely
HTML entities are used to display reserved characters (like `<` or `>`) safely in a web browser without breaking the HTML code. Our HTML Entity Encoder/Decoder allows you to convert plain text containing code snippets into safe HTML entities, or revert garbled HTML entities back into readable plain text.
When to Use This Tool?
- Displaying Code: If you run a coding blog and want to show HTML tags on the page without the browser executing them.
- Security: Encoding user input helps prevent Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.
- Fixing Text: Convert messy strings like `©` back into their readable forms (©).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is an HTML entity?
An HTML entity is a string of text that begins with an ampersand (&) and ends with a semicolon (;). They are used to represent characters that have special meaning in HTML, like < (<) or > (>).
Why is HTML encoding important for security?
If you allow users to submit data that is rendered on a page, failing to encode characters like `<script>` allows attackers to execute malicious JavaScript. Encoding converts it to safe, unexecutable text.
Does this tool encode all special characters?
Yes, it converts all applicable characters to their corresponding HTML entities, including quotes, ampersands, and extended ASCII characters.