HTML Entity Encoder & Decoder
Convert special characters to HTML entities and decode entities back to readable text. Free and instant.
Input Text
Characters
0
Words
0
Output
Converted text will appear here
Characters
0
Words
0
Why use our HTML Entity Encoder?
Encode & Decode
Convert special characters to HTML entities and back in either direction.
Live Conversion Mode
Toggle live convert to see output update as you type — no button clicks needed.
Essential Characters
Handles &, <, >, quotes, slashes, and other characters that break HTML.
What is an HTML Entity Encoder?
An HTML entity encoder converts special characters like <, >, &, and quotes into their HTML entity equivalents (<, >, &, "). Web developers use encoders to safely display user input, prevent XSS attacks, and embed special characters in HTML attributes and content.
Our free online HTML entity encoder supports both encoding and decoding with optional live conversion. Paste your text, choose encode or decode, and copy the result for safe HTML output, template debugging, or content migration.
Encoding & Decoding
- Encode:Convert &, <, >, ", ', /, `, and = to HTML entities.
- Decode:Convert &, <, >, ", ', and numeric entities back to characters.
- Live convert:Output updates automatically as you type when live mode is enabled.
- XSS prevention:Encode user-supplied text before inserting into HTML pages.
- Attribute safety:Encode quotes and special chars for safe use in HTML attributes.
- Copy & download:Export encoded or decoded text to clipboard or a .txt file.
Common Use Cases
XSS Prevention
Encode user input before rendering in HTML to prevent script injection.
Template Debugging
Decode HTML entities in CMS output to see the original characters.
Email HTML
Encode special characters in HTML email templates.
Content Migration
Encode text when moving content between systems with different escaping rules.
API Response Inspection
Decode entity-encoded strings from JSON API responses.
Learning HTML
See how special characters map to their entity equivalents.
How to Encode and Decode HTML Entities
Paste Your Text
Enter text with special characters or HTML entities into the input area.
Choose Encode or Decode
Click Encode to convert characters to entities, or Decode to reverse them.
Enable Live Convert
Toggle live mode for automatic conversion as you type.
Copy or Download
Copy the result to your clipboard or download it as a text file.
Benefits of HTML Entity Encoding
Prevent XSS Attacks
Encode user input before displaying in HTML pages.
Bidirectional
Encode and decode in one tool without switching pages.
Live Preview
See results instantly with live conversion mode.
Essential Character Set
Covers the characters most likely to break HTML or cause security issues.
Private Processing
Your HTML templates and user data never leave your browser.
Completely Free
Encode and decode unlimited text with no account required.
HTML Entity Tips
- •Encode before display: Always encode untrusted user input before inserting into HTML.
- •Decode for inspection: Use decode mode to read entity-encoded content from CMS or API output.
- •Named vs numeric: The encoder uses standard named entities; decode handles both named and numeric forms.
- •Not full HTML sanitizer: Encoding prevents display issues but is not a substitute for a proper HTML sanitizer.
- •Live mode for editing: Enable live convert when iteratively encoding multiple strings.
- •Pair with HTML formatter: Encode text then paste into our HTML beautifier for readable markup.
Encode HTML Entities Now
Whether you are preventing XSS, debugging CMS output, or preparing email templates, our free HTML entity encoder converts special characters safely in your browser.
Scroll up, paste your text, choose encode or decode, and copy the result. No registration required, completely free, and your content stays 100% private on Quick Note.
Related tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What characters are encoded?
The encoder converts &, <, >, double quotes, single quotes, forward slashes, backticks, and equals signs to their HTML entity equivalents.
Can I decode HTML entities back to text?
Yes. Click Decode to convert entities like &, <, and " back to their original characters.
What is live convert?
When enabled, the output updates automatically as you type — no need to click encode or decode each time.
Why encode HTML entities?
Encoding prevents special characters from being interpreted as HTML markup, which is essential for XSS prevention and safe display of user content.
Does this prevent all XSS attacks?
Entity encoding helps but is not a complete XSS defense. Use proper input validation and Content Security Policy in production applications.
Is my text uploaded to a server?
No. All encoding and decoding happens entirely in your browser. Your text is never sent to any server.
Can I download the encoded text?
Yes. Click Download to save the result as a plain .txt file.
Is the HTML entity encoder free?
Yes. It is completely free to use with no registration, downloads, or hidden fees.