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ZeroServer.tools

String Splitter

Split any string by a delimiter — comma, space, newline, or a custom separator.

Split Settings
Delimiter: ,Parts Count: 0Characters: 0

How string splitting works

Paste any string, choose a delimiter, and instantly see the resulting parts as a list, JSON array, or numbered list. Common use-cases include splitting CSV lines into columns, breaking a comma-separated list into individual items, or tokenising a sentence by whitespace. Trim and empty-removal options clean up the output automatically.

To go the other direction — joining lines back into a CSV-style list — see Lines to Comma-Separated. To pad the resulting parts to a fixed width, use the Text Padding Tool.

Built and maintained by Meet Shah · Last updated

What this tool is used for

  • Turning a delimited string from a log or a config into one item per line.
  • Splitting a pasted list on a custom separator before further processing.
  • Producing a JSON array from a delimited string.
  • Checking how many parts a string actually has.
  • Trimming and filtering the parts in the same pass.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I split on a newline or a tab?
Yes — the presets cover comma, space, newline, tab, semicolon and pipe, and the custom box takes any literal string, including a multi-character delimiter such as `, ` or `-->`. The delimiter is matched literally, not as a pattern.
Why are there empty pieces in the output?
Because two delimiters in a row produce an empty field, and so does a trailing delimiter. That is correct behaviour for structured data — an empty CSV column is a real value — so blanks are kept rather than silently dropped.
What output formats are available?
One item per line, a JSON array, a numbered list, or a quoted list. JSON is the one to pick when the result is going into code — it escapes quotes and newlines inside the values for you, which pasting lines by hand does not.
Should I use this on real CSV?
Only when no field is quoted. Splitting `"Smith, John",42` on a comma gives three pieces instead of two, because a real CSV parser has to know that a comma inside quotes is data. Use a CSV tool for anything that might contain one.
How do I split into fixed-size chunks instead?
That is a different operation — there is no delimiter to find. Use a text chunker or a fixed-width splitter, and be careful with non-ASCII: cutting every N characters can split an emoji or an accented letter in half if it counts UTF-16 units.

Common errors and gotchas

  • Splitting on a character that also appears inside a quoted value, which breaks the parts.
  • Losing empty parts that were meaningful, such as a missing field in a fixed layout.
  • Forgetting to trim, so every part after the first carries a leading space.
  • Splitting on a multi-character delimiter as if it were a set of single characters.
  • Assuming the delimiter is unambiguous, where a comma-and-space and a bare comma both appear.

Related Text Tools tools

Private & free — this tool runs entirely in your browser.