HTML Encoder/Decoder

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a common vulnerability where attackers inject malicious scripts into web pages. Encoding converts special characters like `<` into `&lt;` and `>` into `&gt;`.

Example: If a user inputs `<script>alert('hack')</script>`, encoding it ensures the browser displays the text safely instead of executing the script code.

URL encoding (or Percent-encoding) converts characters into a format that can be transmitted over the Internet. URLs can only contain ASCII characters from the standard 128-character set. Special characters, spaces, and non-ASCII characters must be encoded. For example, a space becomes '%20' or '+'. This tool ensures your URLs are valid and safe for transmission.

Some of the most frequently used HTML entities include:

• `&` (Ampersand) → `&amp;`
• `<` (Less than) → `&lt;`
• `>` (Greater than) → `&gt;`
• `"` (Double quote) → `&quot;`
• `'` (Single quote) → `&#39;`
• ` ` (Non-breaking space) → `&nbsp;`

While both processes involve converting characters, they serve different purposes. HTML encoding is for safely displaying text within a web page's HTML structure. URL encoding is for safely including data within a URL (e.g., in query parameters). Using the wrong encoding can lead to broken links or security vulnerabilities.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a major security vulnerability where attackers inject malicious scripts into trusted websites. HTML encoding is your first line of defense. By encoding user input before rendering it (e.g., converting `<script>` to `&lt;script&gt;`), you neutralize the script tags, preventing them from executing in the user's browser.

In JavaScript, there's a key difference:

• `encodeURI()`: Encodes a full URL. It preserves characters like `:`, `/`, `?`, and `#` that are part of the URL structure.
• `encodeURIComponent()`: Encodes a URL component (like a query parameter). It encodes everything, including `/` and `?`. Use this when you are putting a URL inside another URL's parameter.