How to Split Text Into Lines Online (Step by Step)

To split text into lines online, paste your text into the Split Text Into Lines tool, choose a delimiter — comma, semicolon, a custom string, or every N characters — and each piece becomes its own line instantly. Then copy or download the one-item-per-line list. It all runs in your browser with no uploads.

This guide explains what the splitter does, walks through each mode step by step, and shows how to handle tricky delimiters.

What the splitter does

Split Text Into Lines is the opposite of joining: it takes one block of text and breaks it apart wherever your chosen delimiter appears, putting each resulting piece on its own line. Paste a comma-separated string and get a clean vertical list. It handles four split modes — comma, semicolon, any custom delimiter you type, and fixed-width chunks of N characters — and it escapes special characters so unusual delimiters never break it.

Step-by-step for each mode

1. Paste your text. Drop the string or block you want to break apart into the input box.
2. Choose how to split. Pick comma, semicolon, custom delimiter, or every N characters.
3. Enter the detail if needed. For custom mode, type the delimiter string; for N-character mode, enter the chunk size.
4. Read the live preview. The one-item-per-line output appears immediately so you can confirm the split is right.
5. Copy or download. Take the list wherever you need it.

Choosing the right mode

Custom mode covers anything the presets do not, from a pipe to a multi-character separator like ->. N-character mode is for splitting a continuous string, such as a serial number, into even pieces.

A useful habit is to glance at your source and identify the exact separator before choosing a mode. If items are divided by a comma followed by a space, custom mode with , keeps lines from starting with stray whitespace. If they are divided by a tab, custom mode with a literal tab does the job. Matching the mode to the real separator is the single thing that most affects whether the output comes out clean on the first try.

Handling special characters and privacy

Delimiters that contain regex-significant symbols — dots, stars, brackets — are escaped automatically, so they match literally and never throw an error. And because the split happens locally in your browser, your data never leaves your device, and the tool keeps working offline once the page loads.

Try the Split Text Into Lines tool — free and 100% in your browser.

FAQ

How do I turn a comma-separated string into a vertical list?

Paste it, choose the comma mode, and each value between commas becomes its own line, ready to copy.

Can I split on more than one character?

Yes. Use custom mode and type the full delimiter string, such as , (comma plus space) or ->. The whole string is treated as the separator.

What does "every N characters" do exactly?

It ignores content and cuts the text into equal chunks of the length you set, one chunk per line — handy for breaking up codes or fixed-width data.

Will it leave blank lines if there are double delimiters?

Consecutive delimiters produce empty segments. If you see blank lines, clean up doubled delimiters in the source or run the result through a blank-line remover.

Related free tools

• Join Lines — the reverse operation, merging lines back into one string.
• Line Counter — count the lines your split produced.
• Sort Lines — alphabetise the resulting list.
• Wrap Text in Quotes — quote each line for code or CSV.

Built by ByteVancer

ByteTools is a free product of ByteVancer, a software and web development studio building web apps, SaaS, and custom software. If you need a bespoke tool or product built with the same speed and privacy focus, explore ByteVancer.