Unzip Two Lists
Split an interleaved list. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
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Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use Unzip Two Lists
- 1. Paste the interleaved list. Put the alternating items into the input pane, one per line, such as a sequence where every other line belongs to a different original list.
- 2. Check how the split works. The tool separates the odd-position lines from the even-position lines back into two groups, undoing an interleave without needing you to specify anything.
- 3. Copy the two separated lists. The output shows the first group of items, a blank line, then the second group. Copy each block back to wherever the original two lists are needed.
When to use Unzip Two Lists
Unzip Two Lists reverses an interleave, taking a single list where items alternate between two original sources and splitting it back into two separate lists. Reach for it whenever alternating data needs to be pulled apart again.
- Recovering two columns from a merged export. A previous export interleaved names and IDs onto alternating lines instead of two columns. Unzip the list to get the names and IDs back as separate groups.
- Splitting a question-answer transcript. A quiz transcript alternates a question line then an answer line down the page. Unzip it to get all the questions in one list and all the answers in another.
- Undoing a zip operation from earlier. You zipped two lists together for a CSV and later need the originals apart again. Paste the interleaved lines back in and unzip to restore both source lists.
- Separating alternating log entries. A log file alternates a request line and a response line for each event. Unzip it to review all requests together and all responses together.
Examples
Separate alternating items
Input
apples 1 bananas 2
Output
apples bananas 1 2
About the Unzip Two Lists tool
Unzip Two Lists runs as plain JavaScript in your browser tab, with no server behind it. Split an interleaved list. Whatever you put in stays on your device from start to finish.
The tool is part of EditSafely's List Tools section, 114 single-purpose utilities built around the same idea: open the page, get the result, keep your data to yourself.
There is nothing to configure. Provide the input and the result appears on its own. A worked example further down the page shows exactly what the tool produces for a real input.
That local-first design has practical benefits beyond privacy. The tool keeps working on a flaky connection once the page has loaded, results are instant because nothing round-trips to a server, and it is safe to use with confidential material.
Frequently asked questions
Does Unzip Two Lists cost anything?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Is it safe to paste sensitive or confidential data?
No data leaves your device. The whole tool is JavaScript that runs inside your browser tab, so there is no upload, no server-side processing and no log of what you did. If you disconnect from the internet after the page loads, it keeps working.
How much text can I process at once?
There is no fixed limit. Because the work happens on your own device rather than on a shared server, the practical ceiling is your machine's memory, which comfortably handles inputs far larger than typical online tools allow.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
Nothing to install and no account needed. Open the page in any up-to-date browser, including on a phone or tablet, and the tool is ready.
How do I use the result?
The output panel has a one-click copy button, and you can keep refining the input while you work; the result updates in place as you type.