HTML Encoder/Decoder

Encode special characters to HTML entities or decode HTML entities back to text.


    

  

  

    
    
    
    
  

  


    

    

      
ToolsSoup's HTML Encoder/Decoder is a free online tool that escapes special characters into HTML entities and decodes HTML entities back into plain text instantly in your browser. Convert characters like <, >, &, and quotes so they display literally instead of being parsed as markup — no uploads, no sign-up, and nothing ever leaves your device.

      

        
What is HTML encoding?

        
HTML encoding (also called HTML escaping) replaces characters that have special meaning in HTML — such as <, >, &, " and ' — with entity references like <, >, &, " and '. Browsers then render those entities as the literal characters instead of treating them as tags or attribute boundaries. Encoding is essential whenever you want to show code, angle brackets, or untrusted text on a page without breaking the layout or opening a security hole.

        
      

      

        
How to encode and decode HTML online

        
Converting text with ToolsSoup takes just a few seconds:

        
  1. Type or paste your text or HTML into the input box.
  2. Click Encode to turn special characters into HTML entities, or Decode to turn entities back into plain characters.
  3. Copy the result with one click and drop it straight into your page, template, or document.

      

      

        
Why does HTML encoding matter for security?

        
Rendering untrusted text without encoding is the most common cause of cross-site scripting (XSS). If user input like  is written straight into a page, the browser runs it. Encoding the dangerous characters turns that input into harmless visible text. Always encode any value you insert into HTML that originated from a user, an API, or any source you do not fully control.

        
      

      

        
Why use this HTML encoder?

        
  • 100% free with no ads, sign-up, or usage limits.
  • Runs entirely in your browser — your text is never uploaded to a server.
  • Encodes the five reserved HTML characters and decodes named and numeric entities.
  • Encode and decode from a single page with one click.
  • Works offline once the page has loaded.

      

      

        
Frequently asked questions

        

          
Is this HTML encoder free?

          
Yes. Every tool on ToolsSoup is completely free to use, with no account, sign-up, or hidden limits.

        

        

          
Is my data safe?

          
Absolutely. All encoding and decoding happens locally in your browser using JavaScript, so your text is never sent to or stored on any server.

        

        

          
Which characters does the encoder escape?

          
It escapes the five characters that are reserved in HTML: the ampersand (&), less-than (<), greater-than (>), double quote (") and single quote ('). These are the ones that can break markup or enable injection if left raw.

        

        

          
Does the decoder handle named and numeric entities?

          
Yes. Decoding uses the browser's own HTML parser, so named entities like & and © and numeric entities like ' and ❤ are all converted back to their original characters.

        

        

          
What is the difference between HTML encoding and URL encoding?

          
HTML encoding makes text safe to place inside an HTML document, using entities like <. URL encoding makes text safe to place inside a URL, using percent-escapes like %20. They solve different problems, so use the one that matches where the text will appear.