Question 1

What are HTML entities?

Accepted Answer

HTML entities are special codes that start with & and end with ; used to display reserved or special characters in HTML. For example, < displays as < and & displays as &. They prevent browsers from interpreting characters as HTML code.

Question 2

When should I use HTML entity encoding?

Accepted Answer

Use HTML entity encoding when displaying user input, code snippets, or any content containing HTML reserved characters (<, >, &, ", ') on a web page. This prevents XSS attacks and ensures special characters display correctly instead of being interpreted as HTML.

Question 3

What's the difference between named and numeric entities?

Accepted Answer

Named entities use descriptive names (like < for <) that are easy to remember. Numeric entities use numbers (&#60; for <) based on Unicode code points. Named entities are more readable but numeric entities work for any Unicode character, including those without named entities.

Question 4

Is my text data sent to any server?

Accepted Answer

No, all HTML entity encoding and decoding happens entirely in your browser. Your data never leaves your device, making this tool completely safe for sensitive HTML code and content.

Question 5

Should I encode all characters or only special characters?

Accepted Answer

Generally, encode only special characters (< > & " ') to keep file sizes small and content readable in the HTML source. Encoding all characters significantly increases file size and is only necessary in specific situations like preventing text injection attacks.

Question 6

Can I decode entities that are already in my HTML?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the decode function converts HTML entities back to their original characters. This is useful for reading encoded content, editing, or converting between different encoding formats.

Question 7

What happens if I encode text twice?

Accepted Answer

Double encoding encodes the entities themselves. For example, encoding < again produces &lt; which displays as < in the browser instead of <. Always check if text is already encoded before encoding again.

Question 8

Which entity type should I use?

Accepted Answer

Named entities are most readable and recommended for common characters. Use numeric entities for characters without named equivalents. Hexadecimal entities are preferred by developers who work with Unicode code points. All three types work correctly in modern browsers.

Question 9

Does HTML entity encoding prevent XSS attacks?

Accepted Answer

HTML entity encoding is one defense against XSS (cross-site scripting) attacks. By encoding user input, you prevent malicious HTML/JavaScript from executing. However, it should be part of a comprehensive security strategy, not the only defense.

Question 10

Can I use this for XML documents?

Accepted Answer

Yes, XML uses the same entity encoding system as HTML for reserved characters. This tool works for both HTML and XML documents. However, XML is stricter and requires encoding &, <, >, ", and ' in content.

Question 11

What is the difference between HTML encoding and URL encoding?

Accepted Answer

HTML encoding uses entities like < for display in HTML documents. URL encoding uses percent-encoding like %3C for web addresses. They serve different purposes: HTML encoding for content display, URL encoding for transmitting data in URLs.

Question 12

Are there any characters that cannot be encoded?

Accepted Answer

All Unicode characters can be encoded using numeric or hexadecimal entities. Named entities only exist for commonly used characters. For rare or special characters, use numeric (&#{number};) or hex (&#{x}{hex};) entity format.

HTML Entity Encoder / Decoder

Encoding Options

Character Statistics

About HTML Entity Encoder / Decoder

How to Use

Features

Privacy & Security

Common Use Cases

Key Terms & Concepts

HTML Entity

Named Entities

Numeric Entities

Hexadecimal Entities

Character Encoding

Reserved Characters

Examples

Example 1: Encoding Special Characters

Example 2: Decoding HTML Entities

Example 3: Numeric vs Named Entities

Important Notes