Regex & Pattern Tools
Regex Escape / Unescape
Escape special regex characters for literal matching, or unescape an escaped regex.
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What is Regex Escape?
When searching for text that contains regex special characters (., *, +, ?, [, (, {, ^, $, |, \) literally, you need to escape them. This tool does it instantly, and can reverse the process too.
How it works
In escape mode, we prefix each special character with a backslash. In unescape mode, we strip those escaping backslashes.
- Enter your input. Type or paste your input into the field above — the tool responds instantly.
- Review the result. Output updates live as you type. Everything runs entirely in your browser.
- Copy or download. Use the Copy button to grab the result, or Download to save it as a file.
Examples
Literal user input
Escape metacharacters in a string so it matches literally — no more surprises when users type ( . * + ? into a search.
Common mistakes
Context matters
Escaping differs inside character classes — the tool handles both contexts correctly.
Frequently asked questions
When do I need to escape regex characters?
Any time you want to match a literal character that has special regex meaning — searching for aURL, a dollar amount, or file paths with dots.