HTML Encoder/Decoder
Encode and decode HTML entities and special characters with our professional tool. Perfect for web development, content management, and safe HTML rendering.
Original Text
0 charactersHTML Encoded Text
Common HTML Entities
&&Ampersand<<Less than>>Greater than""Quotation mark''Apostrophe Non-breaking space©©Copyright®®Registered trademarkSecurity & Best Practices
Why HTML Encoding Matters
- Prevents XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) attacks
- Ensures proper display of special characters
- Maintains HTML document structure integrity
- Required for XML and XHTML compliance
When to Use
- Displaying user-generated content safely
- Embedding data in HTML attributes
- Processing XML or XHTML documents
- Preparing content for web APIs
Encoding Levels
- Basic: Essential HTML characters only
- Extended: Includes common special chars
- All Entities: Comprehensive encoding
About HTML Encoder/Decoder
Convert special characters to HTML entities for secure web development and content display.
Common Use Cases
Encode user input and dynamic content to prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks in web applications.
Safely display user-generated content in HTML templates without breaking markup structure.
Encode HTML special characters before storing content in databases to prevent SQL injection.
Prepare text content for HTML emails by encoding special characters for proper rendering.
Encode content for XML documents, RSS feeds, and SOAP web services to ensure valid markup.
Encode HTML content for safe transmission in JSON APIs and AJAX responses.
Process and sanitize form inputs containing HTML characters before processing or display.
Safely handle rich text content in CMS platforms while preserving data integrity.
Encode scraped HTML content for safe processing and storage in data pipelines.
Display HTML code examples in documentation by encoding tags and special characters.
Examples & Demonstrations
Encode '<script>alert('XSS')</script>' to '<script>alert('XSS')</script>' for safe display.
Input:
Basic HTML Encoding
Output:
Encode '<script>alert('XSS')</script>' to '<script>alert('XSS')</script>' for safe display.
Convert user input 'Name: <John & Jane>' to 'Name: <John & Jane>' for safe database storage.
Input:
Form Input Processing
Output:
Convert user input 'Name: <John & Jane>' to 'Name: <John & Jane>' for safe database storage.
Transform 'Price: €50 & £40' to 'Price: €50 & £40' for international content.
Input:
Special Character Handling
Output:
Transform 'Price: €50 & £40' to 'Price: €50 & £40' for international content.
Show '<div class="container">' as '<div class="container">' in documentation.
Input:
Code Example Display
Output:
Show '<div class="container">' as '<div class="container">' in documentation.
Tips & Best Practices
Encode all user-generated content before displaying in HTML to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.
Choose the right encoding method based on where the content will be used (HTML body, attributes, JavaScript).
Store original data unencoded and encode only when outputting to HTML for better flexibility.
Test your encoding with special characters, emojis, and international text to ensure proper handling.
For large amounts of content, consider server-side encoding or caching encoded versions.
Ensure encoded content displays correctly and doesn't break your HTML structure.
Be careful not to double-encode content that may already contain HTML entities.
For production applications, use well-tested HTML encoding libraries rather than custom implementations.
Related Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between HTML encoding and URL encoding?
HTML encoding converts characters to HTML entities (<, &) for safe display in HTML. URL encoding converts characters to percent-encoded format (%20, %3C) for safe transmission in URLs.
Should I encode data before storing in the database?
Generally no. Store original data unencoded and encode only when outputting to HTML. This preserves data integrity and allows for different output formats.
Does HTML encoding prevent all XSS attacks?
HTML encoding in the HTML body context prevents most XSS attacks, but you need different encoding for attributes, JavaScript contexts, and CSS. Use context-aware encoding.
Can I decode HTML entities back to original text?
Yes, HTML entities can be decoded back to their original characters. However, ensure you're in a safe context before decoding to avoid security issues.
Are there performance concerns with HTML encoding?
HTML encoding has minimal performance impact for typical use cases. For large-scale applications, consider server-side encoding, caching, or streaming processing.
Why Choose HTML Encoder/Decoder?
Our html encoder/decoder stands out from other online tools with its precision, speed, and user-friendly interface. Built by engineers for professionals, students, and everyday users, it provides accurate results instantly without requiring any software installation or registration.
With robust error handling, multiple format support, and responsive design, this tool works seamlessly across all devices and browsers. Trust ConvertLarge for all your conversion and calculation needs.