Beyond Basic Find and Replace
Every text editor has find and replace. But what about replacing across dozens of files? What about complex patterns that simple text matching cannot handle? What about seeing every change before it happens?
This tool handles bulk replacements with regex support, preview functionality, and the ability to process files with millions of lines. All in your browser, with no uploads required.
How to Use Find & Replace
- Paste your text or upload files to process
- Enter your search term (plain text or regex)
- Enter your replacement text (supports regex backreferences)
- Configure options: case sensitivity, whole word, regex mode
- Preview changes to verify, then click Replace All
Regex Power Features
Common Patterns
\\d+— Match one or more digits\\w+— Match word characters (letters, digits, underscore)\\s+— Match whitespace (spaces, tabs, newlines)[A-Za-z]+— Match letters only^and$— Match line start and end
Capture Groups and Backreferences
Wrap parts of your pattern in parentheses to capture them, then use $1, $2 in the replacement to insert captured text.
Example: Find (\w+)@(\w+)\.com and replace with $1 at $2 dot com transforms email formats.
Real-World Use Cases
Cleaning Data Files
Remove unwanted prefixes, standardize formats, or clean up exports. Replace inconsistent spacing, remove HTML tags, or normalize line endings.
Code Refactoring
Rename variables across files, update API endpoints, or change import paths. Regex support handles variations in formatting and spacing.
Content Migration
Update URLs after domain changes, convert markdown syntax, or transform data formats. Process entire content libraries in seconds.
Combining with Other Tools
Find and replace is often one step in a larger workflow:
- Filter lines first, then make targeted replacements
- Convert case after standardizing content
- Remove duplicates after normalization
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I preview changes before applying them?
Yes. Click the Preview Changes button to see exactly what will be replaced before processing the entire file. The preview shows the original line with strikethrough and the new line below it.
How do I use regex in find and replace?
Enable the Use Regex toggle, then enter your pattern. Common patterns: \d+ for numbers, \s+ for whitespace, [A-Z]+ for uppercase letters. Use parentheses for capture groups and $1, $2 in the replacement.
What does the Whole Word option do?
When enabled, your search term only matches complete words, not parts of words. Searching for cat would match cat but not category or concatenate.
What is Multiline mode?
Multiline mode changes how ^ and $ work in regex. Normally they match start/end of the entire text; with multiline mode, they match start/end of each line. Useful for line-based patterns.
Can I replace with nothing to delete text?
Yes. Leave the Replace with field empty to delete all matches. This is useful for removing unwanted patterns, tags, or formatting from your text.