Convert dumb quotes to smart quotes in HTML string

convert_quotes.py

def convert_quotes(html: str):
    """Replace dumb quotes with smart quotes in HTML."""
    
    # set flags to false.
    # we assume that the HTML is well-formed and that we are starting at the beginning.
    in_html_tag = False
    in_quote = False
    
    # convert all quotes to basic quotes. this might not be necessary,
    # but it is if there is any chance the quotes in the document need
    # to be corrected.
    html = html.replace('“','"')
    html = html.replace('”','"')
    
    formatted = ""
    
    # iterate over each character, tracking whether inside tag or inside quote
    for c in html:

        if c == '<' or c == '>':
            # go into tag mode.
            in_html_tag = not in_html_tag
            formatted += c
            continue
        
        if c == '"' and not in_html_tag:
            # If we are in a quotation, end the quotation. Else, start the quotation.
            if in_quote:
                formatted += "&rdquo;"
            else:
                formatted += "&ldquo;"
            in_quote = not in_quote
            continue
        
        # base case, just add the character.
        formatted += c
            
    return formatted