How to display html from a mysql database in php

Question

I'm stuck with trying to figure out how to display html tags inside of a mysql table. I've tried using addslashes, mysql_real_escape_string, as well as stripslashes to view the tags properly. Everytime I view the data through the browser, it shows the text of the html. Example:

I have this in a mysql database table:

<strong>Test</strong>

It should display as this when viewed on a webpage: Test

But instead, it displays <strong>Test</strong>

My PHP code to view the content is:

<?php

require_once("inc.php"); //This includes the configuration for mysql database

?>
<html>
  <head>
  </head>
  <body>
    <p>
<?php

$conn = mysql_connect(HOST,USER,PASS) or die(mysql_error());
        mysql_select_db(NAME) or die(mysql_error());

$sql = "SELECT * FROM events";
$query = mysql_query($sql);

while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($query)){
  echo(stripslashes($row['details'])); //The details is what contains the <strong>Test</strong>
}

mysql_close($conn) or die(mysql_error());

?>
    </p>
  </body>
</html>

What code are you using to display the data? Also, based on your question, you should probably add PHP as a tag. — aaaaaa123456789
– aaaaaa123456789, Commented Mar 1, 2013 at 8:06
Most likely the framework you use does automatic output escaping to prevent xss attacks. In all the frameworks I know there is an easy way to output a string without escaping. You should add the name of your framework to the question. — Hari
– Hari, Commented Mar 1, 2013 at 8:08

Siyuan Miao · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-01 08:16:29Z

47

Use htmlspecialchars_decode

Replace the following line

  echo(stripslashes($row['details'])); //The details is what contains the <strong>Test</strong>

With

  echo htmlspecialchars_decode(stripslashes($row['details'])); //The details is what contains the <strong>Test</strong>

answered Mar 1, 2013 at 8:16

Siyuan Miao

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1 Comment

Harsha Over a year ago

This is working! why not accepted this answer. Really helpful.

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