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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

PHP: Using str_replace so that it only acts on the first match?

Can be done with preg_replace: 

function str_replace_first($from, $to, $content)
{
    $from = '/'.preg_quote($from, '/').'/';

    return preg_replace($from, $to, $content, 1);
}

echo str_replace_first('abc', '123', 'abcdef abcdef abcdef'); 
// outputs '123def abcdef abcdef'

The magic is in the optional fourth parameter [Limit]. From the documentation:

[Limit] - The maximum possible replacements for each pattern in each subject string. Defaults to -1 (no limit).

Ref : https://bit.ly/35SCuP8