How can I convert html emoji to text?

Question

I'm working with emojis, and I choose to store: 😂 instead 😀 into the database, which works fine.

How can I reload the text in a asp:TextBox and convert 😂 into 😀 ?

In database: test 😀😁😂

In text field I need: test 😀😀😀 for edit purposes.

I think that a simple code resolve this issue like:

txtComment_Lmt.Text = Server.HtmlDecode("test 😀😁😂");

But this approach does not working, i known that emoji is related with unicode.

How can I convert emoji html entitity to something that work in edit mode on textbox?

Answer 1

Using jquery i got the solution:

var ltxtComment_Lmt = document.getElementById('txtComment_Lmt');
ltxtComment_Lmt.value = $('<textarea />').html(ltxtComment_Lmt.value).text();

But i want this solution in C#, i readed that C# not working with html5 entities, i think that exist some easy solution to decode emoji html codes to a textbox.

Answer 2

HttpUtility.HtmlDecode("test 😀😁😂")

should give you the decoded string you are looking for.

Here is a simple test to check its behavior

public class TestEmoji 
{
  [Test]
  public void TestEncodedEmoji() 
  {
    var encoded = "test 😀😁😂";

    var decoded = HttpUtility.HtmlDecode(encoded);

    decoded.Should().Be("test 😀😁😂");
  }
}

by the way I am not sure if you are working on ASP.NET Framework or ASP.NET Core. I tested it on Core.