Highlight RegExp Matches in Text
Highlight every part of the text that matches a pattern. 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 Highlight RegExp Matches in Text
- 1. Paste the text to scan. Paste the text you want to inspect into the input pane, such as a paragraph, log excerpt or document containing the pattern you're checking for.
- 2. Enter the pattern and case rule. Type your pattern into Regular expression, and toggle Case sensitive to control whether the match ignores or respects letter case while scanning the text.
- 3. Review the highlighted result. Review the rendered output where every match is visually highlighted in place, letting you see at a glance where and how often the pattern occurs.
When to use Highlight RegExp Matches in Text
Highlight RegExp Matches in Text visually highlights every part of the text that matches a pattern you provide, right where it appears. Reach for Highlight RegExp Matches in Text when seeing matches in context matters more than just listing them out.
- Reviewing where a pattern occurs in context. Before writing an extraction script, highlighting matches in a sample document confirms the regex catches exactly the right values without accidentally matching unrelated text.
- Spot-checking a validation rule against real text. You're debugging why a validation regex flags certain inputs, and highlighting matches against sample text shows visually which parts trigger the pattern and which don't.
- Auditing a document for a specific term's usage. A style guide review needs to see every place a flagged phrase appears throughout a long document, and highlighting matches makes each instance easy to spot.
Examples
Highlight numbers
Input
order 42, item 7
Output
the text with 42 and 7 highlighted
About the Highlight RegExp Matches in Text tool
Highlight RegExp Matches in Text does its work locally, right in the browser. Highlight every part of the text that matches a pattern. There is no upload step, no queue and no account, and your data never travels over the network.
It belongs to the Text Tools collection on EditSafely, a set of 211 small, focused Text utilities that share the same instant, private workspace.
You can shape the output with 2 settings, including Regular expression and Case sensitive, 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
Is Highlight RegExp Matches in Text 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.
Can I save what the tool produces?
Yes. Use the download or copy controls in the output panel to keep the rendered result once it looks the way you want.