HTML Entity Encoder & Decoder

Convert special characters to HTML entities and vice versa.

All encoding and decoding happens locally in your browser. No data is sent to any server.

Input

Output

How to use this tool

Paste your text or HTML code into the input box.
Click Encode to convert special characters into safe HTML entity equivalents.
Click Decode to convert HTML entities back into their original characters.
Use the copy button to copy the result to your clipboard.

Example

Input raw HTML:

<div class="container">Hello & Welcome</div>

Output encoded:

<div class="container">Hello & Welcome</div>

Frequently asked questions

What are HTML entities?

HTML entities are special codes used to display characters that have special meaning in HTML, like less-than, greater-than, and ampersand characters, or characters that are not present on a standard keyboard.

Why do I need to encode HTML?

If you want to display HTML code on a webpage without the browser interpreting it as actual code, you must encode the special characters. For example, converting <div> to <div> ensures it displays as text.

What are some common HTML entities?

Common entities include & for ampersand, < for less-than, > for greater-than, " for double quote, and ' for single quote.

Is this tool safe for sensitive data?

Yes, all encoding and decoding is performed locally in your browser using native DOM methods. No data is transmitted to our servers.

Related tools

HTML entity encoder decoder

How the html entity encoder and decoder helps

Use the HTML entity encoder and decoder when special characters need to be displayed safely in HTML, documentation, examples, snippets, or content cleanup workflows. Entities help represent characters such as ampersands, quotes, less-than signs, and greater-than signs without accidentally breaking markup.

Utility Tally tools are built for quick, practical workflows: prepare the input, review the result, copy or download the output, and move on without creating an account. The guidance below explains how to use this page responsibly, what the result means, and which related tools or guides can help with the next step.

For best results, start with sample or non-sensitive data when you are learning a tool, then move to real work only after you understand the output. If the result will be sent to a client, imported into software, printed, published, or used in a security-related workflow, take an extra minute to verify formatting, totals, links, spelling, privacy, and destination requirements.

How to use it

Paste text with special characters or existing HTML entities.
Choose encode or decode depending on the direction you need.
Review the output to confirm the characters are represented correctly.
Copy the result into your markup, documentation, or cleanup workflow.
Test the final page or template where the text will appear.

How it works

HTML entities map characters to named or numeric references. Encoding replaces certain characters with entity references, while decoding converts those references back to readable characters. This is representation work, not encryption or validation of a full HTML document.

The result should be treated as a working output, not a substitute for professional review where tax, security, accessibility, legal, accounting, or production data requirements apply. Check the destination system, final format, and any local rules before relying on the result.

Practical tips

Encode text that will be shown as text inside HTML examples instead of interpreted as markup.

Decode imported content when entities are visible to readers by mistake.

Be careful with user-generated HTML because entity encoding is only one part of safe rendering.

Use context-aware escaping in real applications rather than manually patching every string.

HTML Entity Encoder and Decoder FAQ

When should I encode HTML entities?

Encode special characters when they need to appear as text rather than markup.

Is entity encoding security?

It can help prevent markup interpretation in the right context, but safe applications need broader context-aware escaping.

Why do I see ampersand codes in text?

Content may have been encoded before being displayed, causing entity references to appear literally.