Skip to main content
Version: 1.24

Sanitize HTML

Audience: Citizen Developer

Skill Prerequisites: HTML

This action recieves HTML input and repairs broken HTML tag syntax, removes specifed HTML tags and attributes, sets the "rel" attribute to "nofollow" on anchor tags and removes scripts, based on the settings that are selected and set by the user.

Typical Use Cases

  • Apply to the input of a field in a form before the data is saved to your database.
  • Apply to HTML recieved via an API before it is saved to your database.
  • Apply to the content of an incoming email before the content is saved to your database.

Don't use it to

  • Sanitize multiple inputs at once. Use a separate action for each input.
  • To prevent SQL injection. Use Bind Tokens in your Run SQL Query action instead.
Action NameDescription
Generate PDFUses wkhtmltopdf open source to generate PDF from HTML template. Use Sanitize HTML to remove specific tags or just make sure the HTML is complete before sending it to the pdf.
Send EmailSends an email to one or multiple recipients. Use Sanitize HTML to remove scripts and make sure the HTML is cleaned up before sending it the the email action.
Run SQL QueryExecutes an SQL statement and captures the output. Use Sanitize HTML to remove scripts and make sure the HTML is cleaned up before saving it to your database.
Server RequestA low-level action that allows for any kind of HTTP request to be performed. If this action is returning HTML, use Sanitize HTML to remove scripts and make sure the HTML is cleaned up before passing it to subsequent actions.

Input Parameter Reference

ParameterDescriptionSupports TokensDefaultRequired
Html ContentThe HTML content to be sanitized. Most often this will be a token from the input source.Yesempty stringNo
Convert links to nofollowEnsures all anchor tags in the provided HTML content have the "rel" attribute value set to "nofollow".NofalseNo
Removable attributesThe attributes specified here will be stripped off the HTML tags that were allowed in the provided HTML. Enter one at a time and press enter.Noempty stringNo
Disable scriptsRemoves all script tags and their content from the provided HTML.NofalseNo
Toggle between Exclude/Allow HTML tag listsApplies to the Excluded Tags option below. When this option is checked Allow Mode is in effect.NoExcludeNo
Excluded TagsHTML tags specified here will be removed from the provided content. All other tags will remain in place. Content between the removed tags will also remainNoempty stringNo
Allowed TagsOnly HTML tags specified here will be preserved. All other tags will be deleted and their content processed recursively.Noempty stringNo
Removable TagsRemoves specified tags and the content within the tags.Noempty stringNo

Output Parameters Reference

ParameterDescription
Output Token NameThe token name in which the response is to be stored for further use.

Examples

1. Remove Scripts and Common Mouse Event Attributes

This example is set to remove scripts from HTML and some common mouse event attributes that could contain javascript. The list of attributes is not intended to be comprehensive, but suggests the type of attributes you could include.


{
"Title": "Sanitize Html",
"ActionType": "Parsing.SanitizeHtml",
"Description": "Example Sanitize HTML Action Import",
"Condition": null,
"Parameters": {
"HtmlContent": "[YourInputToken]",
"ForceAnchorNoFollow": false,
"RemovableAttributes": [
"onclick",
"onmouseover",
"onmouseout"
],
"DisableScripts": true,
"IsAllowedMode": false,
"TagsList": [],
"RemovableTags": [],
"OutputTokenName": "[YourOutputToken]"
}
}

2. Restrict users ability to submit complex HTML

This example also disables scripts. In addition it adds the "rel=nofollow" attribute to all links, restricts the user to a limited list of very basic HTML tags, and prevents them from using inline styles.


{
"Title": "Sanitize Html",
"ActionType": "Parsing.SanitizeHtml",
"Description": "Example Sanitize HTML Action Import",
"Condition": null,
"Parameters": {
"HtmlContent": "[YourInputToken]",
"ForceAnchorNoFollow": true,
"RemovableAttributes": [
"style"
],
"DisableScripts": true,
"IsAllowedMode": true,
"TagsList": [
"h2",
"h3",
"h4",
"p",
"hr",
"a",
"ul",
"ol",
"li",
"span"
],
"RemovableTags": [],
"OutputTokenName": "[YourOutputToken]"
}
}