DataToolsLab
Text Tools

Text Sorter

Sort lines of text alphabetically, numerically, by length, or shuffle.

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What is Text Sorter?

The Text Sorter orders a pasted list of lines by the mode you choose — alphabetical, numeric, by line length, natural order (item2 before item10), or a seeded random shuffle — with case sensitivity and dedupe options.

How it works

Lines are split, optionally deduplicated (keeping first occurrences), then sorted client-side. Numeric mode parses the leading number of each line; natural order uses a dedicated comparator that splits each line into alternating text/number chunks and compares number chunks numerically.

  1. Paste your list. Names, tags, identifiers, data points — one per line.
  2. Pick a sort mode. Alphabetical, numeric, by length, natural order or shuffle. Toggle case sensitivity and dedupe.
  3. Copy or download. Copy the sorted list or download it as a .txt file.

Examples

Alphabetize a list

Sort a pasted list of names A–Z (or Z–A) instantly, with case-insensitive comparison by default.

Natural order

item2, item10 and item1 sort as item1, item2, item10 — not item1, item10, item2 like a plain lexicographic sort.

Common mistakes

Lexicographic vs numeric

Plain alphabetical sorting puts '10' before '2'. Use numeric or natural order when your lines contain numbers.

Leading numbers in numeric mode

Numeric mode parses the leading number of each line; lines without a leading number fall back to alphabetical comparison.

Alternatives

Duplicate Line Remover

Pair with the sorter — dedupe then sort, or sort then dedupe.

CSV Sort

For sorting structured CSV rows by column instead of plain lines.

Frequently asked questions

What is natural sort order?

It compares embedded numbers numerically instead of lexicographically, so item2 sorts before item10 — the ordering humans expect.

Does it shuffle deterministically?

Shuffle uses a seeded generator, and the 'Shuffle again' button re-rolls the seed — so you can reproduce an order or get a new one.

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