🔣 HTML Entity Conversion

Encode HTML special characters into or decode them from entities.

Common HTML Entities (20 types) ▼
character Named Number Description operation

Usage and Application Examples

  • Securely publish HTML source code as text in blog posts
  • Convert special characters (<, >, &, ©, etc.) into HTML entities to prevent XSS
  • Check readability by reverting entity notations (&, etc.) back to their original characters
  • Escaping special characters in email templates and RSS feeds

What is HTML Entities Converter?

HTML entities are special codes representing characters that have meaning in HTML or are difficult to type directly. This free converter transforms regular text into encoded entities (like & becoming &) and reverses the process. Essential for web developers and content creators working with HTML, it prevents character conflicts and ensures proper display across browsers and systems.

How to Use

Paste your text into the input field and instantly see the encoded or decoded version. Choose between encoding (converting special characters like < to <) or decoding (converting entities back to readable text). The tool supports batch conversion for multiple lines or large text blocks at once. Copy results directly to your clipboard with a single click. No special formatting required—simply paste your content and select your conversion direction.

Use Cases

Web developers embed code snippets in HTML comments or documentation using entity encoding to prevent parsing errors. Content creators working with databases that restrict special characters rely on this conversion. E-commerce platforms safely display product descriptions containing quotation marks or ampersands through entity encoding. Technical writers document API responses and CMS entries that require encoded characters. Translation teams handle character encoding issues when localizing content across different languages and platforms.

Tips & Insights

HTML entities prevent parsing errors and improve backward compatibility with older systems. Common entities include &nbsp; for non-breaking spaces, &copy; for copyright symbols, and &mdash; for em dashes. Numeric entities like &#169; work as alternatives for special characters. While modern browsers handle UTF-8 encoding well, entities ensure compatibility with legacy systems. The most critical characters to encode are &, <, >, ", and ' to prevent breaking code structure in attributes and values.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use HTML entity conversion?

Escapes and unescapes HTML special characters. Useful for pasting code into your blog.

Will double-byte characters be converted?

Conversion to HTML entities is for special characters in the ASCII range. Japanese double-byte characters are retained.

What is an HTML entity?

This is a notation for safely displaying special characters in HTML. Example: < is written as <, > as >, & as &.

When to use HTML entities?

Use this when you want to display HTML code as text on the page or to prevent special characters from being misinterpreted as HTML tags.

Can I convert multiple lines at once?

Yes, you can enter multiple lines of text as is and the conversion results will be displayed for each line.

What can I use the Entity List for?

A list of 20 frequently used HTML entities is available. Both named and numeric entities are displayed and can be easily copied using the copy button.

Can I undo changes or clear the converter?

Yes, use the Clear button to reset both input and output fields. Your browser's Undo function (Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z) also works on the entire page if needed.

What's the difference between decimal and hexadecimal entities?

Both represent the same character—&amp; (decimal) and &#x26; (hex) are equivalent. Use decimal for better readability or hex if your system requires it.

Does this tool store my data?

No, all conversions happen in your browser without sending data to any server. Your privacy is fully protected.

Can I convert HTML from a file upload?

Currently, you can only paste or type text directly. For large files, copy-paste the content in sections or use your code editor's built-in entity conversion features.

How do I encode special characters like & and <?

Simply paste text containing these characters into the input field and click Convert to Entities—they'll automatically become &amp; and &lt; respectively.

Why aren't some Unicode characters being converted?

HTML entities support most common characters, but rare Unicode symbols may not have dedicated entities. These display correctly in modern browsers even without conversion.