What is the difference between < and < in HTML?
< is the HTML entity for the less-than sign (<). Browsers render < as the visible character < without interpreting it as the start of an HTML tag. This decoder converts < back to <.
HTML Decoder converts HTML entity-encoded strings back into their original readable characters. Developers encounter HTML-encoded text when reading API responses that double-encode HTML, inspecting CMS database fields that store escaped HTML, debugging email templates that HTML-encode content, or reading escaped error messages in server logs. Paste any entity-encoded text and get the human-readable version instantly.
HTML decoding converts named entities (<, >, &, ", ) and numeric entities (<, <) back to their original characters using the HTML entity mapping table. The tool handles all HTML5-defined named character references.
< is the HTML entity for the less-than sign (<). Browsers render < as the visible character < without interpreting it as the start of an HTML tag. This decoder converts < back to <.
All HTML5 named character references (&, <, >, ", , ©, — etc.) and numeric references (<, <). Over 2,000 HTML5 named entities are supported.
No. Decoding runs entirely in your browser using a DOM-based approach. Nothing is ever uploaded.
This happens when content is HTML-encoded twice — once when stored, and once when serialized to JSON. Decode once to get & → &, then once more to get & → the original character.
Yes. Both decimal (©) and hex (©) numeric entity references are decoded correctly.
Yes, completely free. No login or account required.
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Free HTML decoder online — instantly convert HTML entities (< > & " ') back to readable characters. Great for inspecting escaped HTML in APIs and emails. No login.
Output
Input
<script>alert("hello")</script>
Output
<script>alert("hello")</script>