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HTML to BBCode Convert HTML markup to BBCode forum syntax.

HTML to BBCode illustration
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HTML to BBCode

Convert HTML markup to BBCode forum syntax.

1

Paste HTML

Paste your HTML markup.

2

Preview BBCode Output

HTML elements are converted to BBCode tags.

3

Copy BBCode

Copy the generated BBCode.

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What Is HTML to BBCode?

A HTML to BBCode converter is a tool that transforms standard HTML elements into BBCode syntax used in forums and message boards, allowing users to convert html to bbcode online. Developers and forum administrators use it to post formatted content to forums or migrate content between HTML and BBCode-based systems. One specific problem it solves is converting complex HTML structures like lists, tables, and quotes into their BBCode equivalents, making it easier to share content across different platforms.

The tool uses regular expressions to replace HTML tags with their corresponding BBCode tags, supporting features like text formatting, links, images, and headings. For example, it replaces `<strong>` and `<b>` tags with `[b]` tags, and `<a>` tags with `[url=$1]$2[/url]` tags. It also handles more complex structures like lists, where it replaces `<ul>` and `<ol>` tags with `[list]` and `[list=1]` tags, respectively.

What makes this tool different is its ability to handle a wide range of HTML elements and convert them accurately to BBCode, making it a reliable bbcode converter for users who need to convert html to bbcode. It also strips remaining HTML tags and decodes entities, ensuring that the output is clean and ready for use in forums or other BBCode-based systems. This feature set makes it an ideal solution for anyone looking for a forum markup converter to simplify their content migration process.

Why Use HTML to BBCode?

  • Convert web content for posting to BBCode-based forums
  • Transform HTML articles to forum-compatible format
  • Migrate content from HTML websites to forum platforms
  • Prepare formatted content for bulletin board posting

Common Use Cases

Forum Posting

Convert HTML-formatted content for posting to BBCode forums.

Content Sharing

Transform web content into forum-compatible markup.

Platform Migration

Translate HTML content to BBCode when migrating to forum software.

Cross-posting

Reformat HTML blog content for forum cross-posting.

Technical Guide

The converter uses regex-based pattern matching to transform HTML elements to BBCode. Strong/bold tags become [b], em/italic become [i], underline becomes [u], del/strikethrough become [s]. Anchor tags with href attributes become [url=href]text[/url]. Image tags become [img]src[/img]. Lists convert ul to [list], ol to [list=1], and li to [*]. Blockquotes become [quote]. Code blocks (pre/code) become [code]. Headings become [h1] through [h3]. After element conversion, remaining HTML tags are stripped. HTML entities are decoded to their character equivalents. Line breaks and paragraphs are converted to newlines.

Tips & Best Practices

  • 1
    Most common HTML elements have BBCode equivalents
  • 2
    CSS styles are not converted — only semantic HTML elements
  • 3
    Complex HTML layouts may need manual adjustment
  • 4
    HTML entities are decoded in the output

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q What HTML elements does this converter support?
strong/b, em/i, u, del/s, a, img, ul, ol, li, blockquote, code/pre, and h1-h3.
Q What happens to HTML with inline CSS styles?
Inline CSS styles are not converted to BBCode equivalents like [color] or [size].
Q Does the converter handle HTML tables?
Tables are not converted as BBCode table support varies between forums.
Q What happens to unsupported HTML elements?
Unsupported elements are stripped, preserving their text content.
Q Does it handle nested HTML correctly?
Standard nesting like <strong><em>text</em></strong> is converted correctly to [b][i]text[/i][/b].

About This Tool

HTML to BBCode is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.