Replace Line Breaks
Swap various line breaks with custom text strings. Convert columns to rows, clean data, and reformat text instantly.
What is Replace Line Breaks?
The Replace Line Breaks tool is a specialized search-and-replace utility for vertical whitespace. It takes multi-line text and transforms it by swapping the invisible "Enter" key characters with visible separators like commas, pipes, or custom strings. It effectively turns columns into rows or formatted lists. If you want to merge lines with more complex delimiters and wrappers, try our Text Joiner Tool.
Why Use This Tool?
Code Formatting
Convert a list of variables or config keys into a single line array: ['item1', 'item2', 'item3'].
SQL Preparation
Transform Excel columns into comma-separated strings for database queries: WHERE id IN (1, 2, 3).
HTML cleaning
Turn plain text paragraphs into HTML by replacing newlines with <br> tags instantly.
Premium Features
Instant Presets
One-click replacement for Comma, Space, Tab, Pipe, Semicolon, and Hyphen.
Custom String
Use any character string interactively. Supports escape codes like \t and \n.
Auto-Trim
Cleans up messy data by trimming leading/trailing spaces from every line.
Skip Empty
Intelligently ignores blank lines to prevent double commas or gaps in your data.
100% Private
Process sensitive data securely. Nothing leaves your browser.
File I/O
Upload a file, swap the breaks, and download the new format instantly.
How to Use
- Paste Text: Enter your multi-line content or upload a file.
- Choose Replacement: Pick a preset (e.g., Comma) or type a custom string.
- Clean Up: Use 'Trim Lines' or 'Skip Empty' to refine the output.
- Export: Click 'Copy' or 'Save' to get the reformatted string.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I replace newlines with a specific symbol?
Select 'Custom' from the replacement options and type your symbol (e.g., ' | ' or ' -> '). All line breaks will be swapped with this text.
Can I replace with a Tab character?
Yes. Use the 'Tab' preset, or type '\t' in the custom field. This is great for preparing data for Excel or TSV files.
What does 'Trim Lines' do?
It removes any spaces at the beginning or end of each line before the replacement happens. This prevents messy results like 'apple , banana' (with extra spaces).
How do I remove empty lines?
Check the 'Skip Empty Lines' box. This ensures that double line breaks don't result in double separators (e.g., 'item1,,item3').
Can I use this for HTML formatting?
Absolutely. Set the custom replacement to '
' or '
Does it handle Windows and Mac line endings?
Yes. The tool normalizes all line endings (CRLF, LF, CR) to a standard newline before processing, so your result is always consistent.
Is my data private?
100% private. All processing happens in your browser. We never see, store, or upload your text.
Can I upload a CSV file?
Yes, you can upload textual files like .csv, .txt, .md, or .json to process them instantly.
How do I just join lines together?
Select the 'None (Join)' preset. This will remove all newlines and concatenate the text lines directly.
Can I download the result?
Yes, simply click the 'Save' button to download your processed text as a .txt file.