Decode named entities
Turn & and < references back into ampersands and less-than characters.
Processed locally
HTML Decoder Online
Decode named, decimal, hexadecimal, and multi-layer HTML entities locally with text-only output and developer diagnostics.
Overview
What this tool does
HTML Decoder resolves named, decimal, and hexadecimal HTML character references while preserving Unicode. Decode once for a single layer or trace up to five layers when a value has been encoded more than once. Encode mode escapes HTML-sensitive characters, and every decoded result remains text-only rather than being inserted into the page as executable markup.
Workflow
How to use
Follow the core workflow below. Use “Show in tool” to locate the real control in the live tool above.
Paste encoded HTML or text
Add the value you want to inspect to Encoded input. Named, decimal, and hexadecimal character references can be mixed in the same value.
Encoded inputSampleDecode once or inspect additional layers
Use Decode once for one encoding layer or Decode all layers to continue until stable, with a maximum depth of five.
Decode onceDecode all layersReview entities and diagnostics
Check named and numeric counts, malformed candidates, active-markup warnings, and the Decode Layers chain before using the result.
Entity analysisDeveloper diagnosticsDecode LayersCopy the final decoded text
Use Copy output after reviewing the text-only result. Copying does not render the decoded markup or treat it as sanitized HTML.
Copy outputOpen the Encode tab
OptionalSwitch to Encode when you need to turn plain text or markup into HTML character references instead of decoding an existing value.
EncodeUse this secondary workflow when the destination expects HTML-safe character references.
Choose the entity style
Choose Named, Decimal, or Hexadecimal references. Enable Encode non-ASCII Unicode only when Unicode characters must also be converted to numeric references.
Reference styleNamedDecimalHexadecimalEncode non-ASCII UnicodeEncode and copy the result
Enter the source value, select Encode, review the text-only output, and use Copy output to copy the generated character references.
EncodeCopy output
Success
You can now decode and inspect HTML entities or encode text using the reference style required by the destination.
Prepare AI-ready contextPractical cases
Examples
Decode numeric references
Resolve decimal © and hexadecimal 🚀 character references while preserving Unicode.
Trace double encoding
Follow &lt; through each decode layer until the stable less-than character is visible.
Inspect an API or log value
Separate HTML entity decoding from percent-encoded URL data before debugging the source system.
Encode before embedding
Escape HTML-sensitive characters in plain text without changing unrelated Unicode by default.
Troubleshooting
Common errors
- A value is encoded more than once, so valid HTML entities remain after the first decode.
- An unknown or malformed entity-like sequence is guessed instead of being preserved for review.
- HTML entities such as & are confused with URL percent encoding such as %26.
- Decoded untrusted text is inserted with innerHTML and becomes active markup.
- HTML decoding is treated as sanitization even though it does not remove unsafe markup or scripts.
From evidence to action
AI workflow
Prepare an agent-neutral HTML decoding context with entity counts, layer depth, malformed references, markup signals, diagnostics, and explicit limitations. Full input and output are excluded by default; only a user-selected excerpt can be added after reviewing the complete clipboard preview.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about HTML Decoder
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