BBCode to HTML
What BBCode to HTML does
BBCode is the bracket markup many forums still use ([b], [url=], [quote], [code]). This tool approximates the HTML those tags expand into so you can preview migration work or understand legacy posts. Dialects differ: some boards allow custom tags, embeds, or smilies; output here is a starting point, not a pixel-perfect match for every phpBB or vBulletin extension ever shipped.
When to use it
Use it when exporting an old community to a new CMS, when support pastes raw BBCode into tickets, or when you need a quick visual of how a toxic post would render. Sanitize and allowlist attributes on the final HTML; never treat conversion output as safe to store unfiltered. Compare with Markdown to HTML for modern doc flows and HTML entity converter when users mixed entities inside tags.
Worked example
A migration script turns [url] links into <a> elements but forgets rel="nofollow ugc" for user links. Visualizing the HTML here spots the policy gap before Google recrawl issues mount.
Frequently asked questions
Are embedded images safe?
BBCode [img] can point anywhere. Use your platform's media proxy and malware scanning, not only HTML conversion.
Nested quote depth?
Forums cap nesting; HTML output may need the same limit to avoid layout blowups.
Can I import this HTML to WordPress?
You will still need shortcode or block mapping; one-to-one rarely exists.