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Fetchlify

HTML Encoder / Decoder

Text Input

Paste text to encode to HTML entities

Settings

Paste text and click Encode or Decode

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About HTML Encoder / Decoder

Encode and decode HTML entities online. Supports named and numeric entities. Free tool for web developers.

How to Use

1

Step 1

Select conversion mode: Encode (text to HTML) or Decode (HTML to text)

2

Step 2

Paste your text or HTML entities into the input field

3

Step 3

For encoding: load examples to see different text types

4

Step 4

Click 'Reference' to view common HTML entities table

5

Step 5

Configure encoding options: encode all characters, use named entities

6

Step 6

Click 'Encode' or 'Decode' to convert

7

Step 7

Copy the output to use in your project

Features & Benefits

  • ✅Bidirectional conversion: Text ↔ HTML Entities
  • ✅Encode special HTML characters: < > & " '
  • ✅Encode all characters including non-ASCII (optional)
  • ✅Use named entities (&amp;lt;) or numeric entities (&amp;#60;)
  • ✅Decode both named and numeric entities
  • ✅Support for decimal (&amp;#123;) and hexadecimal (&amp;#xAB;) entities
  • ✅Common entities reference table with 20+ entities
  • ✅4 text examples: basic, special characters, code, mixed
  • ✅Shows character, named entity, numeric entity, and description
  • ✅One-click copy to clipboard
  • ✅Mode switcher for quick conversion direction change
  • ✅Real-time conversion
  • ✅100% browser-based - data never sent to server
  • ✅100% free - no limits, no signup required

FAQs

What are HTML entities?

HTML entities are special codes used to display reserved characters in HTML. For example, < must be written as &lt; or &#60; to display literally instead of being interpreted as an HTML tag. Entities prevent HTML injection and ensure proper display of special characters.

What's the difference between named and numeric entities?

Named entities use descriptive names: &lt; (less than), &amp; (ampersand), &copy; (copyright). Numeric entities use character codes: &#60; (decimal) or &#x3C; (hexadecimal). Named entities are more readable, but numeric entities work for any character. Both decode to the same character.

When should I encode HTML?

Encode HTML when: displaying user input on web pages (prevents XSS attacks), showing code examples in HTML, storing data in XML/HTML format, or ensuring special characters display correctly. Encoding is essential for security when handling untrusted content.

Should I encode all characters or only special ones?

For most cases, encode only special HTML characters (< > & " '). Use 'Encode all characters' when you need to encode non-ASCII characters (accents, symbols, emoji) for maximum compatibility with older systems or when storing in ASCII-only formats.

Can I decode any HTML entity?

Yes! The decoder handles named entities (&lt;, &copy;, etc.), decimal numeric entities (&#123;), and hexadecimal numeric entities (&#xAB;). It recognizes all standard HTML entities and converts them back to their original characters.

What are the most common HTML entities?

The five essential entities are: &lt; (<), &gt; (>), &amp; (&), &quot; ("), and &apos; ('). These must be encoded in HTML content. Other common ones include &nbsp; (non-breaking space), &copy; (©), &reg; (®), and &euro; (€). Click 'Reference' to see the full table.

Why use named entities instead of numeric?

Named entities (&copy; instead of &#169;) are more readable and self-documenting in source code. They're easier to remember and understand. However, numeric entities work for any Unicode character, while named entities only exist for common characters.

How do I display HTML code on a webpage?

Encode the HTML code using this tool. For example, <div> becomes &lt;div&gt;. This prevents the browser from interpreting it as actual HTML and displays it as text instead. Essential for code examples, tutorials, and documentation.

What's the difference between &apos; and &#39;?

Both represent the single quote ('). &apos; is the named entity, &#39; is the numeric entity. They're functionally identical. Note: &apos; is defined in XML but not in HTML4 (though widely supported). &#39; works everywhere.

Can I use this for preventing XSS attacks?

HTML encoding is one layer of XSS prevention. It converts dangerous characters like < and > to safe entities, preventing script injection. However, complete XSS protection requires multiple layers: input validation, output encoding, Content Security Policy, and proper framework usage.

Is my data secure?

Yes! All encoding and decoding happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your text and HTML never leave your device and are not sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy and security.