diff --git a/laravel/html.php b/laravel/html.php
index d1f199aa..1e484a1d 100644
--- a/laravel/html.php
+++ b/laravel/html.php
@@ -45,6 +45,19 @@ public static function decode($value)
 		return html_entity_decode($value, ENT_QUOTES, Config::get('application.encoding'));
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Convert HTML special characters.
+	 * 
+	 * The encoding specified in the application configuration file will be used.
+	 * 
+	 * @param  string $value
+	 * @return string
+	 */
+	public static function specialchars($value)
+	{
+		return htmlspecialchars($value, ENT_QUOTES, Config::get('application.encoding', false));
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Generate a link to a JavaScript file.
 	 *