Truncate a List
Remove items from the beginning or end of a list. 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 Truncate a List
- 1. Paste your list. Enter your items into the input pane, one per line. This works on any list that has more entries than you actually want to keep.
- 2. Set how many items to remove. Enter the count in Items to remove. This is how many entries get dropped from wherever you choose in the next step.
- 3. Choose where to remove from. Pick Start to drop items from the beginning of the list, or End to drop items from the tail, depending on which end has the entries you no longer need.
- 4. Copy the shortened list. The output pane shows the list with the specified number of items removed from your chosen end. Copy the trimmed result wherever it is needed.
When to use Truncate a List
Truncate a List removes a set number of items from the start or end of a list. Use Truncate a List whenever a list is longer than you need and the extra entries are all at one end.
- Dropping a header row from a pasted export. A spreadsheet export includes a header line at the top that should not be treated as data. Removing one item from the start clears it before further processing.
- Trimming a log to the most recent entries. A log file has old entries at the top you no longer care about. Removing a large number of items from the start leaves just the recent activity.
- Cutting a trailing footer or summary line. An exported report has a totals or summary line appended at the end that should not be part of the data. Removing one item from the end drops it.
- Shortening a list to fit a display limit. A widget only has room to show a fixed number of items, so truncating from the end keeps only what fits without manually deleting the extras by hand.
Examples
Drop the last two items
Input
one two three four
Output
one two
About the Truncate a List tool
Truncate a List does its work locally, right in the browser. Remove items from the beginning or end of a list. There is no upload step, no queue and no account, and your data never travels over the network.
It belongs to the List Tools collection on EditSafely, a set of 114 small, focused List utilities that share the same instant, private workspace.
You can shape the output with 2 settings, including Items to remove and Remove from, 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.
Running locally also makes the tool fast and dependable: results appear as you type or drop a file, there is no server outage that can take it down mid-task, and confidential data can be processed without a second thought.
Frequently asked questions
Does Truncate a List 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.