HTML Entity Encode/Decode
Convert special characters to HTML entities or decode entities back to characters.
Common HTML Entities
| Character | Entity Name | Entity Number | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| < | < | < | Less than |
| > | > | > | Greater than |
| & | & | & | Ampersand |
| " | " | " | Double quote |
| ' | ' | ' | Single quote |
| ยฉ | © | © | Copyright |
| ยฎ | ® | ® | Registered trademark |
| |   | Non-breaking space |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HTML encoding?
HTML encoding converts special characters into HTML entities so they can be safely displayed in HTML pages. For example, < becomes < and & becomes &. This prevents browsers from interpreting characters as HTML tags.
Why do I need HTML encoding?
If you want to display HTML tags as text (like in a tutorial), or include special characters like <, >, or & in your content, you need to encode them. Without encoding, the browser would try to interpret <p> as a paragraph tag rather than displaying it as text.
What is the difference between entity names and numbers?
HTML entities can be represented by names (like <) or decimal numbers (like <). Entity names are easier to remember, but entity numbers have broader browser support and can represent any Unicode character.
Is HTML encoding the same as URL encoding?
No. HTML encoding converts characters to entities like < for display in HTML. URL encoding converts characters to %XX format for use in URLs. They serve different purposes and produce different output.
Is this tool free and private?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up required. All encoding/decoding happens in your browser. Your data never leaves your device.