HTML Decode

HTML Decode converts encoded HTML entities such as &lt;, &gt;, and &amp; back into their literal characters like <, >, and &. It's free to use and requires no sign-up, so you can decode text in seconds. Developers displaying user-submitted content, writers pulling text from CMS exports, and anyone cleaning up escaped code snippets will find this useful.

Why use HTML Decode?

HTML entities exist so that special characters like angle brackets and ampersands don't get misinterpreted as markup when displayed on a page. This tool reverses that encoding, turning entity codes such as &quot; and &#39; back into readable quotation marks and apostrophes, which is especially useful when you've copied text from an API response or a database export. It's a quick way to make encoded text human-readable again before editing or publishing it.

How to use HTML Decode

1. Paste the encoded HTML text into the input box.
2. Click decode to convert the entities back to normal characters.
3. Copy the decoded, readable text for your use.

Key features

• Converts common entities like &amp;, &lt;, &gt;, and &quot; instantly.
• Handles numeric character references as well as named entities.
• Processes text entirely in your browser with no upload delay.
• Free with no sign-up and no limit on text length beyond your browser's memory.

Related tools

Need to go the other direction? Try the HTML Encode tool, or clean up markup formatting with the HTML Beautifier.

Frequently asked questions

Is HTML Decode free?

Yes, decoding HTML entities with this tool is completely free and requires no account. You can use it as often as you need.

What's the difference between decoding and beautifying?

Decoding converts entity codes back into literal characters, while beautifying only adjusts indentation and line breaks in already-valid markup. They solve different problems and are often used together when cleaning up messy exported content.

Does decoding make my text safe to display on a webpage?

No, decoded text should generally not be inserted directly into a live page without proper output encoding, since raw angle brackets and ampersands can be misread as markup. Use decoding for reading and editing content offline, not as a substitute for secure rendering practices.

Can it handle numeric entities as well as named ones?

Yes, the tool recognizes both named entities and numeric character references, such as those representing an apostrophe or a copyright symbol. Both formats decode to the same literal character in the output.