Click Generate redacted text
How this calculator helps
The redacted text generator replaces exact phrases you supply with the fixed marker [REDACTED] and produces a separate plain-text result. Paste text into the original field, list sensitive phrases one per line, then click Generate redacted text. Matching can ignore letter case or require the same case. The generated result contains replacement markers rather than hidden copies of the matched phrases, and the download contains only that result. This is a literal text transformation, not automatic discovery of every identifier or a PDF redaction system. Review the entire output before sharing because an omitted spelling or related detail can remain identifiable.
How to use it
- 1
Paste plain text up to 100,000 characters into the original field. No file is uploaded or automatically read.
- 2
List one literal phrase per line, up to 100 phrases of at most 500 characters each. Include spelling variants you intend to remove.
- 3
Choose whether letter case should matter, then click Generate redacted text. Input edits leave the prior result unchanged until you generate again.
- 4
Inspect the full generated text and match count. Download the result as a separate TXT file, or clear both input and output when finished.
Formula and methodology
Build a literal-match pattern from 1–100 supplied phrases, ordered longest first. Replace non-overlapping matches with [REDACTED], count replacements, and download only the generated UTF-8 plain text.
The calculator applies the displayed arithmetic to the values entered on this device. It does not silently load a local tax rate, currency conversion or commercial assumption.
Worked calculation example
Original: Contact Alex at alex@example.com about the draft. With phrases alex@example.com and Alex and case-insensitive matching, output becomes: Contact [REDACTED] at [REDACTED] about the draft. Two matches are replaced.
How to interpret your result
Literal plain-text replacements only, no automatic PII detection, document metadata processing or anonymization guarantee. Maximum 100,000 characters and 100 phrases. Local processing; original remains in the input until cleared.
For different inputs or formulas, use Word and Character Counter; Plain Text to DOCX; Plain Text to PDF; Superscript Text Generator.
Related questions this calculator covers
- redacted text generator
Scenario comparison
| Scenario | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Listed email and name: two marker replacements. | |
| No matching phrases: zero replacements; review the unchanged output. | |
| Overlapping listed phrases: longest literal candidate is considered first. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating visual covering as removal from an original document.
- Assuming the phrase list automatically recognizes every identity variant.
- Downloading a previous result after edits without generating again.
Search the generated text for intended phrases and variants, inspect the match count, and open the downloaded TXT independently. Confirm that only the reviewed output was saved and evaluate remaining contextual identification risks.
Authoritative reference. The implementation uses ECMAScript literal-escaped regular-expression replacement and a UTF-8 text Blob; it does not claim format-level PDF redaction.What can affect the result?
Replacement differs from visual covering
The output replaces matched text characters with a visible marker. It does not place a black rectangle over retained words or use a hidden layer that contains the original phrase. The downloaded TXT file is assembled from the generated output only. This distinction matters because visual covering in another document format can leave searchable or selectable content beneath it. This page handles plain text rather than repairing the internal layers, annotations or metadata of an existing PDF, image or word-processing document.
Literal phrases and overlapping matches
Phrases are treated literally, so punctuation such as a dot, bracket or plus sign is not interpreted as a regular-expression operator. Longer phrases are considered first to reduce partial replacement when one phrase contains another. Matching is non-overlapping within a single pass. If a shorter phrase appears elsewhere inside an unrelated word, it can still be replaced because this tool does not infer word boundaries or language context. Inspect those cases carefully; use sufficiently specific phrases to avoid unwanted substitutions.
Case and spelling variations need review
Ignoring case catches a phrase written with different upper- or lower-case letters, but it does not automatically recognize initials, nicknames, misspellings, reordered names, alternative number formats or Unicode look-alikes. A person may remain identifiable from an address, job title, date or distinctive event even after a name is removed. The match count reports replacements, not the number of identities anonymized or a privacy score. Build the phrase list deliberately and read the resulting text as a recipient would.
Generated text remains tied to the last action
Changing the source, phrase list or case option marks the displayed output as needing regeneration. The old output remains visible so typing does not silently transform or replace a reviewed result. Click Generate again before downloading an updated version. If a validation error occurs, the page shows an error rather than pretending a new result was made; any prior result remains identifiable as prior output. The download button always uses the currently displayed generated text, so verify it directly instead of assuming recent edits have already been applied.
Local processing and the original buffer
Text replacement runs in the browser and the tool does not send the source to a processing server. The original is still present in your input field while you work, and your device, clipboard, extensions or other software may have their own access behavior. Clear removes the interface’s input and output state but is not a forensic erasure of device memory or clipboard history. Avoid pasting material your environment is not authorized to handle. Local transformation is a narrow processing statement, not a guarantee of compliance, perfect anonymization or irreversible deletion.
Privacy and browser processing
Values entered on this page are processed in the current browser session. SolvePilot does not require an account and does not receive the values entered into the calculator. Refreshing or closing the page clears the working values unless the browser itself restores a previous session. Avoid entering identifying or account information because the calculation needs summary values only.
Accuracy and verification
Accuracy depends first on input quality. Confirm definitions, scales, dates and source information before entering a value. Keep an independent record of any result used for planning because this page does not create an official statement or retain a calculation history.
Limits of this estimate
Literal plain-text replacements only, no automatic PII detection, document metadata processing or anonymization guarantee. Maximum 100,000 characters and 100 phrases. Local processing; original remains in the input until cleared.
Sources and review information
Frequently asked questions
Does this find every piece of personal information?＋
No. It replaces only supplied literal phrases. Unlisted spellings, context clues, dates, addresses or identifiers can remain. A match count is not a certification of anonymization. Review the entire generated text and its purpose before sharing.
Can the downloaded TXT reveal the matched original words?＋
Matched spans are replaced in the generated string; the download uses only that string and includes no original input attachment. However, unlisted or contextual information can remain, and copies elsewhere on your device are outside this tool’s control.
Do regex characters have a special meaning?＋
No. Supplied phrases are escaped for literal matching, so a phrase such as a.b or [ID] targets those actual characters. You cannot run a regular expression or executable code through the phrase list.
Can it redact a PDF or screenshot?＋
No. The input and output are plain text. This tool does not remove PDF objects, image pixels, tracked changes, attachments or document metadata. Use a format-appropriate workflow and verify the actual exported document separately.
Why does the previous result stay after editing?＋
Processing is explicit. Edits mark the output as needing regeneration, and only clicking Generate makes a new result. This lets you review a stable copy and follows the same submitted-result policy used by the site’s calculators.