Encode
Plain text → HTML entities
Encoded Output
Encoded output will appear here.
HTML Encode / Decode
Encode special characters as HTML entities or decode entities back into readable text.
HTML Encode / Decode
Convert HTML special characters to safe entities or decode entities back into readable content.
Enter HTML or entity-encoded text to get started.
Decode
HTML entities → plain text
Decoded Output
Decoded output will appear here.
Common HTML Entities
| Character | Name | Entity | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| < | Less than | < | Less-than sign |
| > | Greater than | > | Greater-than sign |
| & | Ampersand | & | Ampersand |
| " | Double quote | " | Quotation mark |
| ' | Single quote | ' | Apostrophe |
| Character | Name | Entity | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| / | Forward slash | / | Solidus |
| © | Copyright | © | Copyright symbol |
| ® | Registered | ® | Registered mark |
| ™ | Trademark | ™ | Trademark symbol |
| ␠ | Non-breaking space | | Non-breaking space |
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Practical guide
Using HTML Encode / Decode with confidence
Reviewed by LipiCode Editorial Team
What this tool helps you do
HTML entity encoding represents characters such as angle brackets and ampersands so they can be displayed as text rather than interpreted as markup. Context-aware output escaping is a key defence, but entity conversion alone is not a complete HTML sanitizer.
When it is useful
- Displaying markup examples
- Inspecting HTML entities
- Escaping plain text for an HTML text node
- Debugging encoded content
A practical example
To show a literal less-than sign in page text, encode it as &lt;. A trusted template engine should normally perform the correct escaping automatically for the output context.
Limitations and common mistakes
HTML text, attributes, URLs, CSS, and JavaScript require different safety rules. Do not decode untrusted input and inject it with innerHTML. Use a maintained sanitizer when limited markup must be accepted.
Frequently asked questions
Is HTML encoding the same as sanitizing?
No. Encoding displays text safely in a specific context; sanitizing selectively permits reviewed markup.
Why is ampersand encoded first?
It begins entity syntax, so handling it consistently prevents accidental or repeated entity interpretation.