HTML Encoder / Decoder
Encode special characters to HTML entities or decode entities back to readable HTML. Ideal for preventing XSS and displaying raw markup safely.
Preview (sanitized)
Preview removes scripts and inline event handlers for safety.
What is an HTML Encoder and Decoder?
An HTML Encoder and Decoder tool is essential for developers, bloggers, and website administrators who work with raw HTML or user-generated content. When displaying special characters like <, >, &, or quotes, encoding is required to ensure that the browser interprets them as text rather than executable code. Without proper encoding, malicious users could inject harmful scripts, leading to cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities. By converting reserved characters into HTML entities, encoding ensures that your site remains safe and secure.
On the other hand, decoding is used when you need to transform these entities back into their original form for readability or processing. For example, a stored value like < should appear as < when shown to the user. However, decoding should be handled carefully to avoid security risks, especially when displaying dynamic or user-submitted data.
This tool is also highly useful for handling multilingual text, emojis, and special symbols that may not be supported in older systems. By encoding them as numeric entities, you can ensure compatibility across platforms. In summary, an HTML Encoder/Decoder is not only a productivity booster but also a security best practice for anyone working with modern web applications, APIs, or content management systems.
Prevent XSS with Proper Encoding
Encode HTML before displaying user-generated content. Converting < > & and quotes into entities helps block cross-site scripting (XSS) and keeps your website secure.
Decode Only When Needed
Decode entities only for display in a safe context. Avoid decoding and injecting directly into the DOM without sanitizing the output.
Handle Emojis & Non-ASCII
Enable the Non-ASCII → #NNN option to safely represent emojis, symbols, and multilingual text in systems that don’t support Unicode directly.
Sanitize Before Rendering
Even after decoding, always sanitize HTML to remove scripts and dangerous attributes—especially when previewing or rendering user input on a webpage.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an HTML Encoder and Decoder?
An HTML Encoder converts special characters like <, >, and & into entities to make them safe for display in a browser. An HTML Decoder reverses this process, turning entities back into readable characters.
2. Why should I encode HTML?
Encoding HTML prevents security issues like XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) by ensuring that user input is not executed as code inside the browser.
3. Is it safe to decode user input?
Decoding is safe only when you sanitize the output. Otherwise, decoded input may inject harmful scripts or unwanted elements into your page.