Regex-first line filter
Default Mode is Regex and the default pattern is `\d+` - one or more digits. That keeps every line containing a number (or a ticket / order / ID). Replace the pattern with your own regex to match emails, dates, codes, or whatever shape your data follows.
The other four modes (Contains, Equals, Starts with, Ends with) escape the pattern so regex metacharacters like `.`, `*`, `+` match literally. Flip back to Regex when you need `|` alternation, character classes, or anchors.
Invalid regex shows a status-bar error without corrupting the input. Whole word adds `\b` word boundaries in non-regex modes (ignored in Regex - add them yourself). Case sensitive (off by default) flips the `i` flag. Same op as Filter list lines and Grep a list.
How to use find patterns in a list
- 1Paste your list into the input panel
- 2Write your regex in the Match field (default `\d+` matches any number)
- 3Keep Mode = Regex for pattern-based matching
- 4Toggle Invert to drop matching lines instead of keeping them
- 5Output updates live; invalid regex surfaces in the status bar
Keyboard shortcuts
Drive ListShift without touching the mouse.
What this tool actually does
Per-line regex test with invert + case + whole-word refinements.
Full JavaScript regex
Anchors (`^` / `$`), character classes (`[a-z]`, `\d`, `\w`), quantifiers (`*`, `+`, `{n,m}`), groups, alternation (`a|b`), lookaheads. Everything `new RegExp()` accepts in modern browsers.
Non-regex modes for literal text
Contains / Starts with / Ends with / Equals escape the pattern so `.`, `*`, `+` match literally. Pick these when your search term is plain text rather than a pattern.
Safe error handling
Invalid regex (unclosed bracket, bad escape) shows the message in the status bar and leaves output empty. Your input is not mutated - fix the pattern and the output recomputes.
Whole word only applies outside Regex mode
Wraps the (escaped) pattern in `\b…\b` boundaries. In Regex mode the toggle is ignored - insert `\b` anchors directly in your pattern.
Same op as Filter list lines / Grep
Three URLs for different search intents - Filter list lines (general), Grep a list (grep-style framing), and this page (regex-first). Pick whichever matches how you think about the task.
Worked example
Default pattern `\d+` (Regex mode) keeps every line containing one or more digits.
order 1234 hello world ticket #5678 just text ID 42 assigned
order 1234 ticket #5678 ID 42 assigned
Settings reference
How each option shapes the output using the sample above (pattern `\d+`, Regex mode).
| Setting | What it does | Effect on the sample |
|---|---|---|
| Mode: Regex (default), Pattern: `\d+` | Matches lines with one or more digits | `order 1234`, `ticket #5678`, `ID 42 assigned` |
| Pattern: `^[a-z]+$` | Lines that are entirely lowercase letters | `just` would match; `hello world` has a space so it fails |
| Invert: on | Drops matches instead of keeping them | `hello world`, `just text` (non-numeric lines) |
| Mode: Contains (non-regex) | Literal substring match - `.` matches only `.` | Pattern `\d+` matches nothing (no literal `\d+` in any line) |
| Invalid pattern (e.g. `[abc`) | Error shown in status bar; output empty | Input preserved; fix the pattern to recompute |