Convert HTML Entities to ASCII
Decode numeric and named HTML entities back into plain text. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
0 chars · 0 lines
Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use Convert HTML Entities to ASCII
- 1. Paste your HTML entities. Paste text containing numeric entities like A or named entities like < into the input pane. Mixed content with normal text alongside entities is handled the same way.
- 2. See each entity unescaped. The tool recognizes both numeric character references and common named entities, replacing each one with its literal character wherever it appears in the pasted text.
- 3. Copy the decoded plain text. Copy the plain text result once every entity has been unescaped. Paste new markup fragments to clean up as many snippets as you need.
When to use Convert HTML Entities to ASCII
Convert HTML Entities to ASCII unescapes numeric references like A and named entities like < back into the literal characters they represent, the kind of markup left behind after scraping a web page or exporting content from a CMS. Untangling entities by hand means memorizing dozens of named codes, so this tool handles the full set at once.
- Cleaning up scraped web content. A web scraper pulls page text that still contains &, " and numeric entities instead of the real characters. Decoding the scraped text here restores plain readable content before you store or display it.
- Fixing a CMS export. Content exported from a blog or CMS platform sometimes escapes special characters as HTML entities even in plain text fields. Running the export through this tool converts it back to normal punctuation and letters.
- Reading an RSS or XML feed field. An RSS feed or XML API response encodes quotes and ampersands as entities inside a text field. Decoding the field shows exactly what the original title or description said.
- Debugging a double escaped string. A string got HTML escaped twice somewhere in a pipeline and now shows entities in the rendered output. Decoding it once here confirms what the text should look like after removing one layer of escaping.
Examples
Decode
Input
A<B
Output
A<B
About the Convert HTML Entities to ASCII tool
Convert HTML Entities to ASCII runs as plain JavaScript in your browser tab, with no server behind it. Decode numeric and named HTML entities back into plain text. Whatever you put in stays on your device from start to finish.
The tool is part of EditSafely's ASCII Tools section, 81 single-purpose utilities built around the same idea: open the page, get the result, keep your data to yourself.
There is nothing to configure. Provide the input and the result appears on its own. A worked example further down the page shows exactly what the tool produces for a real input.
That local-first design has practical benefits beyond privacy. The tool keeps working on a flaky connection once the page has loaded, results are instant because nothing round-trips to a server, and it is safe to use with confidential material.
Frequently asked questions
Does Convert HTML Entities to ASCII cost anything?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Is it safe to paste sensitive or confidential data?
No data leaves your device. The whole tool is JavaScript that runs inside your browser tab, so there is no upload, no server-side processing and no log of what you did. If you disconnect from the internet after the page loads, it keeps working.
How much text can I process at once?
There is no fixed limit. Because the work happens on your own device rather than on a shared server, the practical ceiling is your machine's memory, which comfortably handles inputs far larger than typical online tools allow.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
Nothing to install and no account needed. Open the page in any up-to-date browser, including on a phone or tablet, and the tool is ready.
How do I use the result?
The output panel has a one-click copy button, and you can keep refining the input while you work; the result updates in place as you type.