HtmlEncode from Class Library

Question

I have a class library (in C#). I need to encode my data using the HtmlEncode method. This is easy to do from a web application. My question is, how do I use this method from a class library that is being called from a console application?

• RBT: Related post - HtmlEncode in C#

Answer 1

Import System.Web Or call the System.Web.HttpUtility which contains it

You will need to add the reference to the DLL if it isn't there already

string TestString = "This is a <Test String>.";
string EncodedString = System.Web.HttpUtility.HtmlEncode(TestString);

• AnthonyWJones: You need to create an instance of the Server Utility class which is designed to support a current in progress Request and emulate features the old ASP Server object. HttpUtility is a lighter weight set of Static methods.
• Martin Murphy: Make sure that your framework type does not specify "Client Profile". Changes this to the full framework and you'll have the system.web assembly available
• Kappacake: System.Web.HttpUtility was not available in my project (.NET Framework 4.7.1). System.Net.WebUtility.HtmlEncode(string) was available and worked fine.

Answer 2

If you are using C#3 a good tip is to create an extension method to make this even simpler. Just create a static method (preferably in a static class) like so:

public static class Extensions
{
 public static string HtmlEncode(this string s)
 {
 return HttpUtility.HtmlEncode(s);
 }
}

You can then do neat stuff like this:

string encoded = "<div>I need encoding</div>".HtmlEncode();

Answer 3

Try this

System.Net.WebUtility.HtmlDecode(string);
System.Net.WebUtility.HtmlEncode(string);

• newman: This is much better because I don't have to add reference to System.Web in my WPF project.

Answer 4

Add a reference to System.Web.dll and then you can use the System.Web.HtmlUtility class

Answer 5

Just reference the System.Web assembly and then call: HttpServerUtility.HtmlEncode

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.web.httpserverutility.htmlencode.aspx

Answer 6

In case you're using SharePoint 2010, using the following line of code will avoid having to reference the whole System.Web library:

Microsoft.SharePoint.Utilities.SPHttpUtility.HtmlEncode(stringToEncode);

Answer 7

In case you are working with silverlight, use this:

System.Windows.Browser.HttpUtility.HtmlEncode(...);