Encode HTML tag syntax safely
Input
<div id="container">Alert & Notice</div>Example output
<div id="container">Alert & Notice</div>HTML Entities Encoder & Decoder
XML & Markup100% Client-SideReady
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About this tool, examples & FAQ
Encode reserved HTML characters and non-ASCII symbols into safe named entities (&, <, >, ", ') or numeric character references (decimal and hex). Decode HTML entities back into clean, unescaped text in your browser with 100% privacy.
Key facts
| HTML Specification | W3C / WHATWG HTML5 Named Character References |
|---|---|
| Entity Types | Named entities, Decimal NCR (&#...), Hex NCR (&#x...) |
| Maximum Input | 2 MB |
| Execution Deadline | 3 s |
How to use
- Select your desired operation: Encode HTML Entities or Decode HTML Entities.
- Choose entity notation style: Named Entities, Decimal numeric character references, or Hexadecimal references.
- Set the encoding scope: HTML Special Characters Only (&, <, >, ", ') or include all non-ASCII symbols.
- Paste your HTML markup or text into the input pane and click Run (or press Ctrl/Cmd + Enter).
- Click Swap at any time to reverse encoding and decoding directions.
Examples
Decode named and numeric HTML entities
Input
<span>Copyright © 2026 & Co.</span>Example output
<span>Copyright © 2026 & Co.</span>Edge cases
Attribute vs Content Context
In HTML attribute values, quotes must be escaped as " or '. In text content, only ampersands (&) and left angle brackets (<) are strictly required, but escaping all five special characters ensures robust cross-context safety.
Double-Encoding Prevention
When encoding raw text, ampersands are converted first (& to &) so subsequent entity replacements do not introduce compound or corrupted entity strings.
Lenient Semicolon Omission
The decoder accepts both strict standards-compliant entities with trailing semicolons (©) and legacy HTML entities without trailing semicolons.
How it works
- Scans the input string for reserved characters according to the selected encoding scope.
- Replaces matching characters with their corresponding named entity representation or numeric character reference code point.
- Decodes entity references using regular expressions matching named entities, decimal values, and hexadecimal notation.
- Executes client-side in a Web Worker without network requests or external tracking.
Related workflows
XML Formatter
Format, indent, prettify, or minify XML documents with customizable indentation, comment preservation, and self-closing tags.
XML ↔ JSON Converter
Convert bi-directionally between XML and JSON documents with configurable indentation, attribute prefixes, text node handling, and local XXE protection.
ASCII & Unicode Code Point Converter
Convert text characters into ASCII/Unicode code points, hex, decimal, or escape sequences, and translate code points back to text.
Base64 Encoder / Decoder
Encode UTF-8 text to standard or URL-safe Base64 and decode Base64 back to text.
Frequently asked questions
Why should I encode HTML entities?
Encoding HTML entities prevents browsers from interpreting user-supplied text as markup, mitigating cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities and preventing syntax errors in rendered pages.
What is the difference between named and numeric entities?
Named entities use human-readable mnemonics (like & or ©) defined in the HTML specification. Numeric character references (like & or &) use the character's exact Unicode code point and work across XML and HTML.
Is my HTML content sent to a server?
No. All encoding and decoding operations execute entirely in your web browser memory.
References
- WHATWG HTML Living Standard: Named Character References — Authoritative list of named character references in modern HTML