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HTML Entity Encoder

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Understanding HTML Entities

HTML entities are character sequences used to display reserved characters (like < and >) or invisible characters (like non-breaking spaces) in HTML.

Common Entities:
• &lt; = < (Less Than)
• &gt; = > (Greater Than)
• &amp; = & (Ampersand)
• &quot; = " (Double Quote)

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Expert Tip: Prevent XSS Attacks
Always encode user input before displaying it on a webpage. This prevents Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks where malicious scripts are injected into your site.

Common Mistakes

  • Double Encoding: Encoding text that is already encoded (e.g., &amp;amp;) results in broken display.
  • Forgetting Semicolons: Entity names must end with a semicolon (e.g., &copy; not &copy).
  • Not Encoding Quotes: Failing to encode quotes in HTML attributes can break your layout or security.
JL
Reviewed by James Lee, Frontend Architect
Updated November 26, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What are HTML Entities?

HTML entities are special codes used to display characters that have special meaning in HTML (like <,>, &) or characters that are not on a standard keyboard.

Why do I need to escape HTML characters?

Escaping characters prevents the browser from interpreting them as code. This is crucial for security (preventing XSS attacks) and ensuring your content displays correctly.

What is the entity for the copyright symbol?

The HTML entity for the copyright symbol (©) is © or ©.

Does this tool support all HTML entities?

Yes, this tool handles standard named entities (like &), decimal entities (like &), and hexadecimal entities (like &)."