 <p><code>&amp;lt;</code> stands for the less-than sign <code>&lt;</code> and <code>&amp;gt;</code> stands for the greater-than sign <code>&gt;</code></p> <p><a href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5068951/what-do-entities-lt-and-gt-stand-for">What do entities: &amp;lt; and &amp;gt; stand for?</a></p> <p>I think(not really sure) you can replace like</p> <pre><code>string.replaceAll("&amp;l t;","&lt;"); </code></pre> <p>wish I could add comment, instead of answering but my reputation is not allowing me to do.</p>