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Free HTML entity encoder and decoder
Escape special characters for safe HTML, or turn entities back into readable text.
Result
The free html entity encoder runs in your browser, needs no sign-up and never sends what you type anywhere.
Quick answer
This HTML entity encoder converts characters that HTML treats as markup, such as <, >, & and quotes, into entities like < and &, and can also encode every non-ASCII character as a named, decimal or hex reference. Rule of thumb: on a UTF-8 page, escape only the five syntax characters and type everything else normally.
What is a HTML entity encoder?
An HTML entity encoder is a tool that replaces characters with character references, which start with & and end with a semicolon. A reference can be named (©), decimal (©) or hexadecimal (©), and the browser displays the original character.
How do you use the HTML Entity Encoder?
- Paste the text or code you want to convert.
- Choose Encode or Decode.
- For encoding, pick Basic (five syntax characters), Named, Decimal or Hex for non-ASCII characters.
- Copy the result into your HTML, CMS or template.
- Preview the page to confirm the characters display as expected.
Which characters must be escaped in HTML?
Escape & as & and < as < in text, and escape the quote character that wraps an attribute value (" or '). Escaping > as > is a common safe habit. The W3C advises using escapes mainly for syntax characters and typing other characters directly in UTF-8.
What is the difference between and a normal space?
is a non-breaking space, so the browser will not wrap a line at that point and will not collapse it with nearby spaces. Use it between a number and its unit, such as 10 km. Avoid using it for layout spacing, which belongs in CSS.
Does encoding entities stop XSS attacks?
Encoding the five syntax characters is a key part of preventing cross site scripting when you place untrusted text in HTML content or quoted attributes. It is not enough inside script blocks, URLs or CSS, which need their own context specific escaping. Use your framework's built in escaping for production code.
Quick reference
| Character | Named | Decimal / Hex |
|---|---|---|
| & | & | & / & |
| < | < | < / < |
| > | > | > / > |
| " | " | " / " |
| ' | ' | ' / ' |
| © | © | © / © |
Worked example
Example
Example: the text 5 < 10 & "SEO" © 2026 encoded in Basic mode becomes 5 < 10 & "SEO" © 2026. In Named mode the copyright sign also becomes ©, and in Hex mode it becomes ©. Decoding any of these returns the original text.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need entities for accented letters on a UTF-8 page?
No. If your page declares UTF-8, which nearly all modern sites do, you can type letters such as é, ü or Urdu and Arabic text directly. Entities make the source harder to read and larger, so keep them for syntax characters.
What is the difference between named and numeric entities?
Named entities like © are easier to read but only exist for a set list of characters. Numeric references like © or © work for any Unicode character, including emoji. Browsers treat all three forms the same.
Why does my page show & instead of &?
That is double encoding: text that already contained & was encoded again. Decode the text once with this tool, then make sure your CMS or template escapes it only one time on output.
Should I encode entities in meta titles and descriptions?
Escape & and quotes inside attribute values such as content in a meta description, because a raw double quote would end the attribute. Search engines decode entities, so & displays as & in results.
Is ' valid in HTML?
Yes, ' is valid in HTML5 and XML, but it was not defined in HTML 4, so some older tools prefer '. This tool uses ' for the single quote in Basic mode for the widest compatibility.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. Encoding and decoding run in your browser with JavaScript, and nothing is uploaded or stored. Decoding uses an inert textarea element, so pasted markup is never executed as HTML.
Sources
Facts checked against these official pages. Read how I check facts in my editorial policy.
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