HTML Entity Encoder

Escape HTML special characters so they display safely in code, or decode entities back into the characters they represent.

Your text is processed locally in your browser.

How to use HTML Entity Encoder

  1. Paste the text or HTML fragment.
  2. Choose “Encode” to escape special characters, or “Decode” to turn entities back into characters.
  3. The result updates automatically.
  4. Copy it with one click.

About this tool

When you write code examples, embed user content in a page, or work with XML and HTML templates, characters like &, < and > must be escaped to prevent them from being interpreted as markup.

The encoder covers the essential entities plus a full pass for non-ASCII characters, and the decoder understands both named entities (&amp;) and numeric ones (&#38;).

When to use it: showing code samples or user content safely inside a web page.

Frequently asked questions

What does encoding actually do?
It replaces characters that have special meaning in HTML — like < and & — with their entity equivalents, so they render as plain text instead of markup.
Which entities does the decoder recognise?
All numeric entities (decimal and hexadecimal) plus the common named ones such as &amp;, &lt;, &gt;, &quot;, &#39; and &nbsp;.
When do I need to escape HTML?
Whenever user input or code samples appear inside a page — an unescaped < or & can break the layout or be read as markup.
Is entity encoding enough to prevent XSS?
It protects HTML text content. Attributes and script contexts need their own escaping, and untrusted HTML should never be injected as-is.
What is &nbsp; for?
A non-breaking space that keeps two words together on one line, such as “10&nbsp;kg” or “page&nbsp;5”.
Do entities make my page larger?
Slightly. Use them only where a character needs escaping; write ordinary characters directly everywhere else.

Related tools

Browse all Developer Tools →

How to use Html Entity Encoder

Paste your code, data, or URL into the Html Entity Encoder input area. Select the appropriate mode or option, then process. The formatted or converted output appears clearly and can be copied or saved.

Practical benefits

Frequently asked questions

Is this tool free to use?
Yes. Html Entity Encoder is fully free with no account or subscription required.
Does it upload my files?
No. All processing occurs locally within your browser session.
Can I use this for professional projects?
Yes, the tool is designed for both casual and professional use. Always verify critical outputs.