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PHP: htmlspecialchars_ decode() function

Description

The htmlspecialchars_decode() function is used to convert special HTML entities back to characters.

Version:

(PHP 4 and above)

Syntax:

htmlspecialchars_decode(input_string, quote_style)

Parameters:

NameDescription Required /
Optional		 Type
input_string The string to be converted. Required String
quote_style Encoding single and double quote.
ENT_COMPAT : Convert double quotes and leave single quotes unchanged.
ENT_COMPAT is the default setting
ENT_QUOTES : Converts both single and double quotes.
ENT_NOQUOTES: Converts neither single nor double quotes.
 Optional Integer

Return values:

The decoded string.

Value Type: String.

Example: 

<?php
$input_string = "&#169 w3resource.com";
echo 'After decoding : '.htmlspecialchars_decode($input_string) .'<br>';
$input_string = "&lt;table&gt;<br>&lt;tr&gt;<br>&lt;td&gt;<br>We are learning php&lt;/td&gt;<br>&lt;/tr&gt;<br>&lt;/table&gt;<br>";
echo 'After decoding : '.htmlspecialchars_decode($input_string) .'<br>';
?>

Output:

After decoding : © w3resource.com
After decoding : 

We are learning php

View the example in the browser

See also

PHP Function Reference

Previous: htmlentities
Next: htmlspecialchars



PHP: Tips of the Day

In PHP, there are two versions of logical AND and OR operators.

Operator True if
$a and $b Both $a and $b are true
$a && $b Both $a and $b are true
$a or $b Either $a or $b is true
$a || $b Either $a or $b is true

Note that the && and || opererators have higher precedence than and and or. See table below:

Evaluation Result of $e Evaluated as
$e = false || true True $e = (false || true)
$e = false or true False ($e = false) or true

Because of this it's safer to use && and || instead of and and or.