HTML Entities Encoder/Decoder
Convert special HTML characters to entities and back. Prevent XSS attacks and display code safely.
100% Free — Essential for web development and security.
HTML Entities Encoder/Decoder
Common Use Cases
XSS Prevention
Encode user input before displaying to prevent malicious script injection attacks.
Display Code
Show HTML, JavaScript or XML code snippets in tutorials and documentation.
Email Templates
Encode special characters in HTML emails to ensure correct rendering across clients.
Database Storage
Sanitize text before storing in databases to prevent injection vulnerabilities.
HTML Entities Reference
< → <> → >& → &" → "' → '© → ©® → ®™ → ™Why Use HTML Entities?
- XSS Prevention: Encoding user input prevents script injection attacks.
- Display Code: Show HTML code without it being interpreted by browser.
- Special Characters: Display symbols like ©, ®, ™ correctly across all browsers.
- Avoid Parsing Issues: Prevent breaking HTML structure with special characters.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I encode HTML?
Always encode user-generated content before displaying it in HTML. This prevents XSS attacks and ensures text displays correctly.
What is the difference between the less-than symbol and its HTML entity?
The less-than symbol is the actual character that starts HTML tags. The HTML entity version displays the symbol as text instead of being interpreted as markup.
What is XSS and how does encoding prevent it?
XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) injects malicious scripts into web pages. Encoding converts script tags to safe entities, displaying them as text instead of executing.
Does encoding affect SEO?
No. Search engines understand HTML entities. Encoded ampersands are treated the same as regular ampersands for indexing purposes.