What is the Add/Remove Line Numbers Tool?

The Add/Remove Line Numbers Tool is a simple yet powerful utility that allows you to automatically insert sequential numbers at the beginning of each line in a block of text, or to strip them away if they already exist. It's an essential formatting tool for anyone who needs to reference specific lines in a document, such as programmers, legal professionals, and writers.

What Problem Does This Tool Solve?

When reviewing a code snippet, a legal contract, or a long manuscript, it's often necessary to refer to specific lines (e.g., "See line 42 for the error"). Manually adding these numbers to a long document is an extremely tedious task. Conversely, if you have a block of text with line numbers (perhaps copied from a code editor) that you want to use in a report, manually deleting each number is just as time-consuming. This tool solves the problem by automating both processes, allowing you to add or remove line numbers from thousands of lines in an instant.

How to Use the Tool?

  1. Paste Your Text: Copy your text and paste it into the text area.
  2. Choose an Action:
    • Click the **"Add Line Numbers"** button to prepend numbers (`1.`, `2.`, `3.`, etc.) to each line.
    • Click the **"Remove Line Numbers"** button to automatically strip existing numbers from the start of each line.
  3. Copy the Result: The text in the box will be updated instantly. Use the "Copy Result" button to grab the formatted text.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How does the "Remove" function work?
It uses a regular expression to find and delete any sequence of digits followed by a period at the very beginning of each line. This is effective for most standard numbered lists.
2. Can I customize the number format (e.g., without a dot)?
The current version provides a standard `1.` format for simplicity. We may add customization options in the future.
3. Is my text data private?
Yes. All processing is done in your browser. Your text is never sent to our servers, ensuring your data remains completely private and secure.