How to use the HTML Entity Decoder
1. Paste HTML-encoded text containing entities like <, &, ", or numeric entities like ©.
2. The decoded output appears instantly — all entities are replaced with their original characters.
3. Copy the decoded text using the Copy button.
Tip: this tool decodes named entities (©), decimal numeric entities (©), and hex numeric entities (©) — all standard HTML5 entities are supported.
What is it?
HTML entity decoding converts named and numeric character references back to their original characters. When HTML is stored in databases, transmitted in APIs, or embedded in JSON responses, special characters (< > & " ') are often encoded as entities to prevent them from being interpreted as HTML markup.
Common situations where you need to decode HTML: pulling content from a CMS or database that stores HTML-encoded text, reading API responses with escaped HTML in JSON fields, processing web scraping results, debugging template engines that double-encode output, and working with email clients that HTML-encode message bodies.
This tool uses the browser's native HTML parser (a hidden <textarea> element), which supports the full HTML5 entity set — over 2,000 named entities — and all numeric references, both decimal and hexadecimal.
Example
<h1>Hello & "World"</h1>
<h1>Hello & "World"</h1>
< → < · > → > · & → & · " → " · ' → '
Benefits
Pass data safely through any protocol
Encoded content — Base64, URL percent-encoding, HTML entities, Unicode escapes — travels through email, JSON, HTTP headers, and databases without corruption.
Decode any encoded string instantly
URL percent-encoding, Base64, HTML entities, Unicode escapes, JWT payloads — decode any format to readable text in one click, no library or script needed.
Copy-paste ready output for any context
Whether embedding content in a URL, HTML attribute, JSON string, or HTTP header — the correct encoding for each destination, immediately.
Eliminate encoding bugs before they reach production
Test encoding and decoding logic interactively with real inputs — catch character encoding mismatches and broken escaping before they cause user-facing errors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between &lt; and <?
&lt; is a named HTML entity for the < character. < is its decimal numeric equivalent (60 is the ASCII code for <). < is the hexadecimal numeric form. All three decode to the same < character. This tool handles all three forms.
Will decoding HTML entities create an XSS vulnerability?
No — this tool just converts the text representation. The decoded output is plain text in your browser, not injected into the DOM. If you later render the decoded output as HTML in your application, standard XSS precautions still apply.
Why is my encoded HTML showing double-encoded entities like &amp;?
&amp; decodes to & (not &). Double-encoding happens when text is encoded twice. Run it through the decoder twice to fully restore the original text.
Does this tool handle emoji and Unicode entities?
Yes — numeric entities like 😀 (😀) decode correctly to the Unicode character. Named emoji entities (if any exist in your HTML) are also handled via the browser's full HTML5 parser.
How do I encode text to HTML entities? Where is the encoder?
Use our HTML Entity Encoder tool to convert special characters into safe HTML entity form.