HTML-decode a String
Convert HTML entities back into the characters they represent. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
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Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use HTML-decode a String
- 1. Paste the encoded text. Enter text containing HTML entities into the input pane, such as & for an ampersand or é for an accented letter, copied from a page's source or an API response.
- 2. Read how decoding works. There are no settings to adjust; the tool converts both named entities like & and numeric entities like é back into the actual characters they represent.
- 3. Copy the decoded text. Copy the plain, human-readable text from the output pane into your document, spreadsheet or code, without any leftover entity codes.
When to use HTML-decode a String
HTML-decode a String reverses HTML entity escaping, turning codes like & and é back into the literal characters a page displays. Reach for it whenever you have copied text out of a page's source, an RSS feed or a scraped API response and it's still full of entity codes.
- Cleaning up scraped web content. A web scraper pulled article text straight from HTML source and the result is littered with & and " codes. Decoding restores readable punctuation before you store or display it.
- Reading an RSS feed description. An RSS feed's item description field arrives HTML-encoded, showing café instead of café. Decoding it once makes the text presentable in a reader app.
- Fixing text from a CMS export. A CMS export dumped page content with entity-encoded quotes and accented characters intact. Decoding the whole export in one pass saves editing every field by hand.
- Debugging a double-encoded API field. An API response shows a field that looks like it was HTML-encoded before being stored. Decoding it once reveals whether the original text is now correct or still encoded.
Examples
Decode named and numeric entities
Input
café & tea
Output
café & tea
About the HTML-decode a String tool
HTML-decode a String is a free online tool that works entirely inside your web browser. Convert HTML entities back into the characters they represent. Because the processing happens on your own device, nothing you enter is uploaded, logged or stored anywhere.
This page is one of 159 String utilities on EditSafely. Each one does a single job well, and all of them follow the same rule: your input stays on your machine.
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.
Because nothing leaves your device, the tool is suitable for sensitive content such as internal documents, credentials or customer data. It also responds instantly, since every keystroke is handled on your own machine rather than by a remote API.
Frequently asked questions
Is HTML-decode a String free to use?
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?
Everything happens locally. Your browser downloads the tool's code once, then does all the processing itself; nothing you enter is transmitted, stored or logged. You can even go offline after the page loads and it will still work.
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?
No. The tool works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. There is no account to create, no extension to add and no software to install.
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.