Filter Text Lines
Keep only the lines that match a pattern or regular expression. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
0 chars · 0 lines
Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use Filter Text Lines
- 1. Paste the lines you want to search. Enter a multi-line document or log, such as an application log or a list of entries you need to narrow down to specific matches.
- 2. Set the Pattern. Type the text or regular expression to match against each line, such as the word 'error' to find failing log entries or a pattern for a specific format.
- 3. Choose regex, case sensitivity, and Invert. Turn on Use a regular expression for pattern matching beyond plain text, Case sensitive to require exact capitalization, and Invert to keep only the lines that don't match instead.
- 4. Copy the filtered lines. Copy the surviving lines into your report, spreadsheet, or wherever the narrowed-down list is needed.
When to use Filter Text Lines
Filter Text Lines keeps only the lines matching a pattern, a lightweight grep you can run without a terminal. Use Filter Text Lines whenever you have a long log, export, or document and need to isolate just the rows relevant to a specific keyword, format, or regular expression.
- Isolating error lines from an application log. A verbose log file mixes info, warning, and error messages together, but you only need to review the failures. Filtering for 'error' pulls out just the relevant lines instantly.
- Finding rows matching a specific ID pattern. A data export has thousands of lines and you need only the ones matching a particular ID format. Using a regular expression pattern isolates exactly those rows.
- Excluding blank or placeholder rows from a report. A generated report includes filler rows with placeholder text that shouldn't appear in the final version. Filtering with Invert on removes anything matching that placeholder pattern, keeping the rest.
- Searching a config file for lines mentioning a setting. A large configuration file needs a quick check for every line that references a specific setting name before you decide whether to change it everywhere it appears.
Examples
Keep lines mentioning error
Input
ok: start error: bad ok: done
Output
error: bad
About the Filter Text Lines tool
Filter Text Lines is a free online tool that works entirely inside your web browser. Keep only the lines that match a pattern or regular expression. Because the processing happens on your own device, nothing you enter is uploaded, logged or stored anywhere.
This page is one of 211 Text utilities on EditSafely. Each one does a single job well, and all of them follow the same rule: your input stays on your machine.
You can shape the output with 4 settings, including Pattern, Use a regular expression, Case sensitive and Invert (keep lines that don't match), and the result refreshes the moment you change one. A worked example further down the page shows exactly what the tool produces for a real input.
Because nothing leaves your device, the tool is suitable for sensitive content such as internal documents, credentials or customer data. It also responds instantly, since every keystroke is handled on your own machine rather than by a remote API.
Frequently asked questions
Is Filter Text Lines free to use?
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?
Everything happens locally. Your browser downloads the tool's code once, then does all the processing itself; nothing you enter is transmitted, stored or logged. You can even go offline after the page loads and it will still work.
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?
No. The tool works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. There is no account to create, no extension to add and no software to install.
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.