Extracting lines 5–10 or any range from text usually means manual selection or a script. The Extract Line Range tool does it in the browser: paste your text, enter start and end line numbers (1-based), and get only that range—no sign-up and no data sent to a server.
What does Extract Line Range do?
Extract Line Range is a free online tool that returns only the lines between a start and end line number (inclusive). Line numbers are 1-based: 1 is the first line. It is used to grab lines 5–10 from a log, extract a section from a file, or slice a list by line position. All processing runs in your browser; there is no upload, no storage, and no account required.
Key Features
- Start and end (inclusive) — Enter start line and end line (e.g. 5 and 10). You get lines 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Line 1 is the first line.
- 1-based — Line 1 is the first line. No zero-based indexing. Lines outside the range are omitted.
- Any input — Paste or type text and enter start and end line numbers. No size limit for in-browser processing.
- Instant result — Paste, set range, and see the extracted lines. Copy when ready.
- Privacy-first — All processing happens in your browser. Your text is never sent to any server.
- No account — Use as often as you need without sign-up.
How to Use Extract Line Range
- Open the Extract Line Range tool.
- Paste or type your text (multi-line).
- Enter start line (e.g. 5) and end line (e.g. 10). View the extracted range. Copy the result.
- Paste into your doc or use for debugging. Use the "Use tool" button on the docs page if you are reading this from the documentation.
Real Use Cases
- Grab lines 5–10 from a log — Extract a specific span of lines for sharing or analysis. No need to count by hand.
- Extract a section from a file — Get lines 20–50 from pasted content (e.g. config, code, or data).
- Slice a list by position — Keep only lines in a given range (e.g. 1–100 for first 100). Combine with Head/Tail if you prefer.
- Reference by line number — When someone says "lines 15–20", extract that range quickly.
- Debug and support — Extract the exact lines that contain an error or relevant section.
- Batch processing — Get a chunk of lines for the next step (e.g. process in batches of 50).
Why Use Extract Line Range Instead of Alternatives?
- vs. Head/Tail — Head gives first N; Tail gives last N. Extract Line Range gives any contiguous range (e.g. 5–10).
- vs. Manual selection — No need to count and select. Enter start and end, copy.
- vs. Filter by pattern — Filter Text Lines keeps lines that match text or regex. This tool keeps lines by position only.
- vs. Scripts — No coding. Works in any browser.
Ensure start is less than or equal to end and both are within the number of lines. Line 1 is the first line.
Benefits for Developers, Support, and Data Users
- Developers — Extract a line range from pasted logs or output. No one-off script.
- Support — Grab the exact lines referenced in a ticket (e.g. "see lines 30–40").
- Data users — Slice line-based data by position for analysis or export.
Common Mistakes
- Range empty — Ensure start is less than or equal to end and both are within the number of lines. Line 1 is the first line.
- Off-by-one — Line numbers are 1-based. Line 1 is the first line, not the second.
- Expecting first or last N — For first N use Head Text; for last N use Tail Text. This tool is for an arbitrary range.
- Forgetting to copy — The result is not saved. Copy before closing the tab or refreshing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does extract line range do?
It returns only the lines between a start and end line number (inclusive). Line numbers are 1-based: 1 is the first line.
Are line numbers 1-based?
Yes. Line 1 is the first line. Enter start and end (inclusive) to extract that range.
What input does it accept?
Paste or type text and enter start and end line numbers. Lines outside the range are omitted.
Is my text stored?
No. All processing happens in your browser. Your text is never sent to any server.
When should I use extract line range?
Use it to grab lines 5–10 from a log, extract a section from a file, or slice a list by line position.
Why is my range empty?
Ensure start is less than or equal to end and both are within the number of lines. Line 1 is the first line.
Conclusion and Try the Tool
Extract Line Range gives you a line range in seconds: paste, set start and end, copy. No account, no server round-trip. For first N lines use Head Text, for last N use Tail Text, and for filtering by pattern use Filter Text Lines.
Use the Extract Line Range tool to get lines M to N.