About HTML Entity Encoder & Decoder
HTML entities are special codes used to represent characters that have special meaning in HTML or characters that cannot be easily typed on a keyboard. Our HTML Entity Encoder & Decoder makes it easy to convert between regular characters and their HTML entity equivalents, ensuring your HTML code is safe and displays correctly.
Features
- Encode text to HTML entities (named or numeric)
- Decode HTML entities back to regular text
- Two encoding modes: special characters only or all characters
- Switch input/output for quick reverse conversion
- Comprehensive reference table of common HTML entities
- Click to insert entities directly into input
- Copy input or output to clipboard
- Character count for output
- Responsive design for all devices
- Dark mode support
- Multilingual interface
How to Use
- Enter your text in the input field
- Choose encoding mode: special characters only or all characters
- Click "Encode" to convert to HTML entities
- Or click "Decode" to convert HTML entities back to text
- Use "Switch" to swap input and output
- Click any entity in the reference table to insert it
- Copy the result to clipboard when done
What are HTML Entities?
HTML entities are special character sequences that begin with an ampersand (&) and end with a semicolon (;). They're used to display reserved characters in HTML or characters that aren't available on your keyboard.
There are two types of HTML entities:
- Named entities: Use descriptive names (e.g., < for <)
- Numeric entities: Use character codes (e.g., < for <)
Why Use HTML Entities?
- Security: Prevent XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) attacks by encoding user input
- Display Reserved Characters: Show <, >, & without breaking HTML
- Special Symbols: Display copyright ©, trademark ™, and other symbols
- International Characters: Display accented letters and non-ASCII characters
- Compatibility: Ensure text displays correctly across all browsers
Common Use Cases
- Displaying Code: Show HTML/XML code examples without executing them
- User Input: Safely display user-generated content
- Email Templates: Ensure special characters display correctly in emails
- Database Storage: Store text with special characters safely
- SEO: Use proper entities for meta tags and descriptions
- Accessibility: Ensure screen readers interpret content correctly
Essential HTML Entities
Reserved Characters:
- < (<) - Less than sign
- > (>) - Greater than sign
- & (&) - Ampersand
- " (") - Double quotation mark
- ' (') - Single quotation mark (apostrophe)
Common Symbols:
- - Non-breaking space
- © (©) - Copyright symbol
- ® (®) - Registered trademark
- ™ (™) - Trademark symbol
- € (€) - Euro sign
- £ (£) - Pound sign
Encoding Modes Explained
Encode Special Characters Only:
Converts only HTML-reserved characters and common symbols to entities. Regular letters and numbers remain unchanged. This is the most common mode and produces readable output.
Input: Hello <world> & friends!
Output: Hello <world> & friends!Encode All Characters:
Converts every character to its numeric entity. Useful for maximum compatibility but produces less readable output.
Input: Hello
Output: HelloSecurity Considerations
HTML entity encoding is crucial for preventing XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) attacks. When displaying user-generated content, always encode it to prevent malicious scripts from executing. However, remember:
- Encoding is not encryption - it doesn't hide data
- Always validate and sanitize input on the server side
- Use context-appropriate encoding (HTML, JavaScript, URL, etc.)
- Don't rely solely on client-side encoding for security
Named vs Numeric Entities
Named Entities:
- More readable and memorable
- Limited set of predefined names
- Not all browsers support all named entities
- Example: © for ©
Numeric Entities:
- Work for any Unicode character
- Universal browser support
- Less readable for humans
- Example: © for ©
Programming Examples
JavaScript:
// Encode
const encoded = text.replace(/[<>&"']/g, char => ({
'<': '<', '>': '>', '&': '&',
'"': '"', "'": '''
}[char]));
// Decode
const textarea = document.createElement('textarea');
textarea.innerHTML = encoded;
const decoded = textarea.value;PHP:
// Encode
$encoded = htmlspecialchars($text, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8');
// Decode
$decoded = html_entity_decode($encoded, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8');Python:
import html
import Breadcrumb from "@/components/Breadcrumb"; # Encode
encoded = html.escape(text)
# Decode
decoded = html.unescape(encoded)Best Practices
- Always encode user input before displaying it in HTML
- Use named entities for common symbols (more readable)
- Use numeric entities for special or international characters
- Encode on output, not on input (store original data)
- Use UTF-8 encoding to minimize the need for entities
- Test your encoded content across different browsers
- Don't double-encode (encoding already-encoded text)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to encode user input (security risk)
- Encoding data before storing in database (store raw data)
- Using wrong encoding for context (HTML vs JavaScript vs URL)
- Not closing entities with semicolon
- Double-encoding text multiple times
- Using deprecated entities (use modern alternatives)
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use HTML entities?
Use HTML entities when displaying special characters, reserved HTML characters, or user-generated content to prevent XSS attacks and ensure proper display.
Are HTML entities case-sensitive?
Named entities are case-sensitive (© works, © doesn't). Numeric entities are not case-sensitive.
Can I use HTML entities in attributes?
Yes! HTML entities work in both element content and attribute values.
Do I need to encode spaces?
Regular spaces don't need encoding. Use only for non-breaking spaces.
What's the difference between ' and '?
They both represent the apostrophe. ' is the named entity, ' is the numeric entity. Use ' for better browser compatibility.