How to display HTML tags as plain text
PhpHtmlPhp Problem Overview
I have an input form on my website where HTML is allowed and I'm trying to add instructions about the use of HTML tags. I'd like the text to
<strong>Look just like this line - so then know how to type it</strong>
But so far all I get is:
Look just like this line - so then know how to type it
How can I show the tags so people know what to type?
Php Solutions
Solution 1 - Php
Replace < with < and > with >.
Solution 2 - Php
In PHP use the function htmlspecialchars() to escape < and >.
htmlspecialchars('<strong>something</strong>')
Solution 3 - Php
As many others have said, htmlentities() will do the trick... but it will look like shit.
Wrap it up with a <pre> tag and you'll preserve your indentation.
echo '<pre>';
echo htmlspecialchars($YOUR_HTML);
echo '</pre>';
Solution 4 - Php
You should use htmlspecialchars. It replaces characters as below:
-
&(ampersand) becomes& -
"(double quote) becomes"when ENT_NOQUOTES is not set. -
'(single quote) becomes'only when ENT_QUOTES is set. -
<(less than) becomes< -
>(greater than) becomes>
Solution 5 - Php
you may use htmlspecialchars()
<?php
$new = htmlspecialchars("<a href='test'>Test</a>", ENT_QUOTES);
echo $new; // <a href='test'>Test</a>
?>
Solution 6 - Php
You just need to encode the <>s:
<strong>Look just like this line - so then know how to type it</strong>
Solution 7 - Php
To display HTML tags within a browser, surround the output with < xmp> and < / xmp> tags
Solution 8 - Php
You can use htmlentities when echoing to the browser, this will show the tag rather than have html interpret it.
See here http://uk3.php.net/manual/en/function.htmlentities.php
Example:
echo htmlentities("<strong>Look just like this line - so then know how to type it</strong>");
Output:
<strong>Look just like this line - so then know how to type it</strong>
Solution 9 - Php
>The native JavaScript approach -
('<strong>Look just ...</strong>').replace(/</g, '<').replace(/>/g, '>');
>Enjoy!
Solution 10 - Php
There is another way...
header('Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8');
This makes the whole page served as plain text... better is htmlspecialchars...
Hope this helps...
Solution 11 - Php
Use htmlentities() to convert characters that would otherwise be displayed as HTML.