HTML Unescape
Table of Contents
Do you have a string of text filled with HTML entities like < and >? This is likely encoded text. Our free online HTML decoder provides the solution you need. It instantly converts these entities back into their original characters.
This entity reversal tool is fast, secure, and essential for restoring functional code. You can use it to turn protected text back into renderable HTML or usable code. Therefore, start your decode HTML entities process now.
Your Free, Fast, and Secure Online HTML Unescape Tool
HTML unescaping is the final step in restoring data that has been previously secured. When a tool like HTML Escape converts special characters to entities, it is safe to display. This HTML Unescape utility reverses this process, returning the characters to their functional form.
How to Use Our Online HTML Unescape Tool
You can complete your convert HTML entities to characters process in three simple steps.
Input Your Entities: Paste the string containing HTML entities (like
<div>) into the input box.Click Unescape: Press the “Unescape HTML” button.
Output and Copy: The resulting string, with restored functional characters (like
<div>), appears instantly. You can now copy this decoded text for use.
What is HTML Unescaping? (Restoring Code Functionality)
HTML unescaping is the exact reverse of HTML escaping. It is the process of reversing the entity encoding to restore the original character.
The Core Purpose: Reversing Entity Encoding
HTML entities exist to prevent the browser from executing code. Therefore, unescaping is necessary when you want the browser to start executing or interpreting the code again. It takes the safe, textual representation (<) and turns it back into the functional character (<).
The Key Difference: Unescaping vs. Decoding
Unescaping specifically refers to reversing HTML entities (<). Conversely, decoding refers to reversing other forms of data transmission encoding, such as percent codes (%20). These processes solve different conversion problems.
Key Conversions: Reversing the Three Essential Entities
The entity reversal tool focuses primarily on restoring the most critical functional characters.
Converting < back to Less Than (<)
The entity < prevents a browser from opening a tag. Therefore, unescaping this restores the original < character. This allows the text to be recognized as an HTML tag once again.
Converting > back to Greater Than (>)
The entity > closes an HTML entity. Consequently, unescaping it restores the functional > character.
Converting & back to Ampersand (&)
The ampersand (&) is the starting trigger for all entities. Thus, & is the entity for the ampersand itself. Unescaping it restores the plain & character.
Explore Our Other Conversion Tools
If this HTML Unescape tool helped you, you might also like these related tools:
HTML Escape: You need this tool to convert characters the opposite way, making them safe for display.
JSON Formatter: If the restored code is a JSON string, use this to validate and beautify the structure.
XML Formatter: For restoring and validating XML structures.
Ready to Convert HTML Entities?
Restore the functionality of your encoded text.
Use our free HTML Unescape tool at the top of this page to convert HTML entities back to normal characters instantly.
Your questions answered
Frequantly Asked Questions (Faq)s
What is HTML Unescape?
HTML Unescape is the process of converting safe HTML entities (like <) back into their functional characters (like <). This is the reverse of HTML Escape.
How do I convert HTML entities to characters?
Paste the entity-encoded string into our online HTML decoder. Then click “Unescape.” The output will be the restored characters, ready to be rendered or used as code.
Why is unescaping potentially dangerous?
It is dangerous because you are restoring the functionality of characters like < and >. Consequently, if the original text was a malicious script, unescaping it allows that script to execute. Therefore, only unescape trusted code.
What is the difference between HTML Escape and HTML Unescape?
HTML Escape makes functional code safe for viewing. Conversely, HTML Unescape makes viewed code functional again.
