How to convert string to HTML friendly string

Question

We have $str = " hello";

What's the best way to get $newstr equal to &nbsp;hello; and so on to be sure it is displayed on the page the same way using jQuery?

Why not just replace the ampersand: $str = $str.replace(/&/, '&');? — Joeytje50
– Joeytje50, Commented Sep 26, 2014 at 16:44
The reason is it is not only &, but <> as well. "<div style='display:none;'>not visible text</div>" will show nothing on the page, not this string. — Haradzieniec
– Haradzieniec, Commented Sep 26, 2014 at 16:46

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:08:26Z

3

I think both answers by Matt Schmiermund and Alex Gidan are directing you to the right place.

You should try something like this :

var a = "<div>Your HTML & More</div>";
var span = document.createElement("span");
$(span).text(a)
$(span).html()

this will return the following :

"&lt;div&gt;Your HTML &amp; More&lt;/div&gt;"

CommunityBot

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answered Sep 26, 2014 at 17:14

migueldiab

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Comments

Alex Gidan · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-26 16:43:28Z

2

If you have to do it with JQuery (directly from your JS) you can use .text() / .html() functions:

 $('<div/>').text(value).html();


 $('<div/>').html(value).text();

answered Sep 26, 2014 at 16:43

Alex Gidan

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Untoftunately, I'm not attaching it to div.

you can pick up the element you want to convert (even <body> for instance)