HTML Entity Encoder/Decoder

What are HTML Entities and Why Use Them?

HTML entities are special strings of characters used to display reserved characters or symbols that aren't available on standard keyboards. In HTML, characters like < and > are reserved because they define tags. To display them as text, you must use their corresponding entity names (e.g., < and >).

Our Online HTML Entity Encoder/Decoder simplifies this process, allowing you to instantly convert between plain text and various HTML entity formats.

Key Features

1. Robust Encoding Modes

• Named Entities: Uses standardized names like & for &. These are the most readable for human developers.
• Numeric Entities (Decimal): Uses ASCII/Unicode code points (e.g., &).
• Hexadecimal Entities: Uses hex representation (e.g., &), often used in CSS or modern web apps.
• XSS Prevention Mode: Specifically targets characters like ', ", /, <, >, and & to neutralize potential script injections in user-provided content.

2. Intelligent Decoding

Paste any encoded HTML snippet, and our tool will automatically handle mixed named, numeric, and hex entities, returning the original plain text.

3. Entity Statistics

Get instant feedback on your output with our statistics panel, which counts named, numeric, and hex entities—useful for debugging encoding issues in large datasets.

How to Prevent XSS with HTML Encoding

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a major web security vulnerability. It occurs when a malicious script is injected into a trusted website. One of the most effective ways to mitigate XSS is by encoding user-controlled data before rendering it in the browser.

By converting a script tag like <script> into <script>, the browser treats it as literal text rather than an executable command, rendering the attack harmless.

Common HTML Entity Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this HTML encoder safe for sensitive data?

Yes. Our tool runs entirely in your local browser. No text or data is ever sent to our servers, ensuring your snippets remain private and secure.

What is the difference between Named and Numeric entities?

Named entities (like α) are easier for humans to read, while numeric entities (like α) are more universal and guaranteed to be supported by all browsers even for rare characters.

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