Line filter with five match modes
Same engine as Filter list lines. Each line is tested against the Match pattern under the chosen Mode: Contains (substring), Equals (exact-line match), Starts with, Ends with, or Regex. By default the pattern is regex-escaped so `.+*` work as literals; turn Regex mode on to enable pattern syntax.
Invert flips the result: instead of keeping matching lines, it drops them. Useful for "show me everything *except* lines containing `@`" without rewriting the pattern.
Whole word wraps the pattern in `\b…\b` word boundaries - `cat` matches `the cat` but not `category`. Ignored in Regex mode (add boundaries yourself). Case sensitive (off by default) flips the `i` regex flag.
How to use filter words in a list
- 1Paste your list into the input panel
- 2Type the Match pattern in the Match field
- 3Pick Mode: Contains (default), Equals, Starts with, Ends with, or Regex
- 4Toggle Invert to drop matches instead of keeping them
- 5Toggle Whole word / Case sensitive as needed
Keyboard shortcuts
Drive ListShift without touching the mouse.
What this filter actually does
Per-line substring / regex keep-or-drop with five match modes.
Five match modes
Contains (default, substring anywhere), Equals (whole-line exact match, no trim), Starts with (anchored at line start), Ends with (anchored at line end), Regex (full JavaScript regex syntax).
Invert toggle
Flips keep-vs-drop. With a pattern and Invert off, matching lines are kept. With Invert on, matching lines are dropped instead. Lets you reuse the same pattern for include or exclude filtering.
Whole word for precise matches
Adds `\b` word boundaries around the pattern. `cat` matches `the cat` (space boundaries) but not `category` or `concatenate`. Only applies to non-regex modes; in Regex mode, add `\b` yourself.
Case sensitivity toggle
Off by default - `Apple`, `apple`, `APPLE` all match `apple`. On distinguishes them. Applies to all five modes.
Same op as Filter list lines
This page is the word-in-list-framing alias of Filter list lines. Same underlying engine, same options, same behavior - two SEO targets for the same tool.
Worked example
Default Contains mode, pattern `ap`. Two items contain the substring.
apple banana cherry apricot blueberry
apple apricot
Settings reference
How each option shapes the output using the sample above (Match pattern `ap`).
| Setting | What it does | Effect on the sample |
|---|---|---|
| Mode: Contains (default), Pattern: `ap` | Keeps lines containing the substring `ap` | `apple`, `apricot` |
| Mode: Starts with, Pattern: `ap` | Keeps lines starting with `ap` | `apple`, `apricot` (same in this case) |
| Mode: Equals, Pattern: `apple` | Keeps only lines exactly `apple` | `apple` |
| Mode: Regex, Pattern: `^a.+e$` | Keeps lines starting with `a` and ending with `e` | `apple` |
| Invert: on, Pattern: `ap` | Drops lines containing `ap` | `banana`, `cherry`, `blueberry` |