How to Encode and Decode HTML Entities

Enter the text, then use the exact mode value encode for nonempty HTML escaping or another mode value for nonempty HTML unescaping. Empty input returns successfully with empty transformed text and the supplied mode, without applying either nonempty-text operation.

What this HTML entity tool does

HTML Entities is intended for changing text between ordinary characters and HTML entity form. It is useful when a string contains characters that need HTML escaping, or when text already contains entity references that you want to inspect through the unescaping path. The tool accepts both text and a mode. If no mode is supplied, the mode defaults to encode.

The mode matters only after you provide nonempty text. The value encode selects the HTML escaping operation, while every other mode value selects the HTML unescaping operation. This includes values that differ from encode by spelling, capitalization, or extra characters. Empty text is handled separately: the tool returns successfully with empty transformed text and the supplied mode, without applying either operation used for nonempty input.

How to encode or decode HTML entities

1. Enter the text you want to process. You can provide ordinary text for escaping or text containing HTML entities for unescaping. If the text input is left unset, it defaults to empty.
2. Choose the mode before submitting. Enter the exact value encode when the nonempty text should use HTML escaping. Enter a different mode value when the nonempty text should use HTML unescaping. Do not assume that a similar-looking value will select the escaping path.
3. Submit the text and mode through the available controls.
4. Read the successful response and inspect the transformed text together with the mode you supplied. For a nonempty input, compare the returned text with the operation you intended. For an empty input, expect empty transformed text and the supplied mode; that response does not apply either nonempty-text operation.
5. If the result is not what you intended, check the input first, then verify the mode character by character. A mode that is not precisely encode sends nonempty text through unescaping, so changing the mode can change the operation without changing the text.

How to read the result

Interpret the returned text according to the submitted input and mode rather than judging the result from the mode label alone. With nonempty input, encode means the HTML escaping operation was selected. Every other mode value means the HTML unescaping operation was selected, including a value chosen for a decoding request.

An empty transformed text value has a different meaning when the input was empty. It confirms a successful empty-input response, but it does not show that escaping or unescaping changed anything. The response also includes the mode you supplied, which helps you confirm what was sent.

The reviewed behavior does not establish coverage of every possible HTML entity, standards compliance, or a guaranteed round trip after encoding and decoding. For a workflow that depends on a particular character or entity, inspect the returned text and verify it against the surrounding HTML use case before relying on it.

Worked example

You need to process a short string containing a less-than character through the HTML escaping operation.

Enter 5 < 7, set the mode to encode, submit it, and inspect the returned transformed text alongside the mode.

A successful response containing transformed text and the supplied mode; the returned text depends on the submitted input and selected operation.

Limitations

• The reviewed behavior does not establish coverage of every HTML entity, standards compliance, or guaranteed round-trip results, and empty input does not demonstrate a transformation.

Common errors

• Cause: a nonempty input uses a mode value other than encode, so the unescaping operation is selected. Correction: enter encode precisely for HTML escaping, or keep the other value only when unescaping is the intended operation.

FAQ

Does the tool encode HTML entities by default?

The default mode is encode, so nonempty text follows HTML escaping when no mode is supplied. If you supply another mode value, that nonempty text follows HTML unescaping instead.

Which mode should I use to encode HTML entities?

Choose encode precisely when your nonempty input needs HTML escaping. A mode value with any other content selects HTML unescaping for that input.

What happens if I submit empty text?

An empty submission returns successfully with empty transformed text and the mode you supplied. Neither nonempty-input operation is applied in that case.