What is Truncate Text?

Truncate Text is a precise online utility designed to shorten text strings to a specific length. Whether you need to fit content into database fields, create excerpts for article previews, or test UI constraints, this tool provides multiple methods to cut text exactly where you want.

Unlike simple character counters, Truncate Text offers intelligent cutting modes. You can limit text by exact character count, word count, line count, or even cut before a specific "stop character" (like a period or comma). It also includes smart features like "Preserve Words" to ensure readability by not slicing words in half.

Privacy First: All text processing happens entirely in your browser. We never upload, store, or analyze your content.

Who Needs This Tool?

Developers

Preparing seed data, testing UI text overflow, or truncating API responses for consistent display.

Content Creators

Creating consistent excerpts or meta descriptions for blogs and social media platforms.

Database Admins

Cleaning and trimming data to fit specific column length requirements and constraints.

Designers

Generating placeholder text of varying lengths for mockups and design prototypes.

Common Use Cases

Social Media Previews: Cutting posts to fit "See more" limits (e.g., first 3 lines)
CMS Summaries: Automatically generating 50-word excerpts from full articles
Data Cleaning: Removing everything after a specific separator (e.g., extracting "Name" from "Name | Title")
UI Testing: Verifying how layouts handle long vs. short text strings
Meta Descriptions: Creating SEO-friendly descriptions within character limits
Email Previews: Generating subject line previews for email clients

Table of Contents

1. What is Truncate Text?
- 1.1. Who Needs This Tool?
- 1.2. Common Use Cases
2. How to Use
3. Truncate Text Features
4. Frequently Asked Questions

How to Use

Follow these simple steps to truncate your text efficiently and achieve precise results:

Input Content

Paste or type the text you want to process into the Input panel on the left side. The tool accepts plain text, code snippets, or formatted content with line breaks.

Select Truncation Mode

Choose the method that best fits your needs from the toolbar:

Chars: Limits text to a specific total number of characters
Words: Limits text to a specific number of words
By Char: Cuts text before a specific character you define
Lines: Keeps only the specified number of lines/paragraphs

Configure Options

Fine-tune your truncation settings:

Limit / Stop Char: Enter the numeric limit or specific character to stop at
Suffix: Optional text appended to the end (e.g., "...", " [Read more]")
Preserve Words: Prevent splitting words in the middle (Chars mode only)

Get Results

Processed text appears instantly in the Result panel on the right. You can review statistics, copy the result with one click, or manually edit the output for final adjustments.

Truncate Text Features

Four Truncation Modes

Each mode serves different purposes and provides precise control over how text is shortened:

Character Mode (Chars)

Cuts text at an exact character count. The most precise mode for strict length requirements.

Input: "Hello World, this is a test" (Limit: 11)
Output: "Hello World..."
Best for: Database fields, meta descriptions, tweets

Word Mode (Words)

Limits text to a specific number of words, keeping sentences readable and natural.

Input: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" (Limit: 5)
Output: "The quick brown fox jumps..."
Best for: Blog excerpts, article previews, summaries

Line Mode (Lines)

Keeps only the specified number of lines, respecting line breaks and formatting.

Input: "Line 1\nLine 2\nLine 3\nLine 4" (Limit: 2)
Output: "Line 1\nLine 2..."
Best for: Code previews, multi-line displays, log snippets

Stop Character Mode (By Char)

Cuts text at the first occurrence of a specific character you define.

Input: "John Doe | Software Engineer" (Stop: "|")
Output: "John Doe"
Best for: Extracting parts from formatted strings, data cleaning

Smart Options

Without Preserve Words

Standard Character Cut

"Hello Worl..."

Cuts exactly at character 10
May split words mid-character
Less readable output

With Preserve Words

Smart Word Preservation

"Hello..."

Finds nearest space before limit
Keeps words intact
More readable and professional

Custom Suffix Options

Append any text to indicate truncation. Common options include:

`...`

Classic ellipsis for standard truncation

`[Read more]`

Call to action for content previews

`→`

Visual indicator for continuation

Empty

No suffix at all for clean cuts

Additional Features

Real-Time Processing: Results update instantly as you type or change settings
Live Statistics: Status bar shows both original and truncated lengths
Editable Output: Result panel remains editable for manual fine-tuning
Unicode Support: Correctly handles all languages and special characters
One-Click Copy: Copy results to clipboard with a single click
Offline Capable: Works without internet connection once loaded

Frequently Asked Questions

Does "Preserve Words" make the text longer or shorter than the limit?

If you enable "Preserve Words", the tool always shortens the text to find the nearest space before your character limit. It never exceeds the limit you set, ensuring your text fits strictly within containers while remaining readable and professional.

Is the suffix included in the character count?

The displayed "Truncated" statistics include the suffix in the total count. If you need the final output (including suffix) to fit within a strict limit, account for the suffix length when setting your character limit. For example, if you need 100 characters total and use "..." (3 chars), set your limit to 97.

How does "By Char" mode handle missing characters?

If the stop character you specify (e.g., |) is not found in the input text, the tool returns the entire original text without cutting anything. This safeguard prevents accidental data loss and ensures predictable behavior.

Can I truncate text with Unicode characters?

Yes. The tool correctly handles Unicode characters including Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, emoji, and special symbols. Character counting is accurate regardless of the language or character set used.

What's the difference between Character and Word mode?

Character mode is precise - it counts every letter, space, and punctuation mark, making it ideal for strict length requirements like database fields or API limits. Word mode counts words separated by spaces, making it better for content that needs to remain readable rather than fit exact byte limits, such as article excerpts or summaries.

Can I use this for code snippets?

Yes. The tool preserves line breaks and formatting, making it perfect for code. Use "Lines" mode to keep a specific number of code lines, or "Chars" mode for strict length limits in comments or documentation. Indentation and whitespace are maintained.

Will I lose my text if I refresh the page?

The tool does not persistently save your input to protect privacy. Copy your result before navigating away or refreshing. Your browser's undo function (Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z) works in the input area during your active session.

Is my text sent to a server?

No. All processing happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your text never leaves your device, making it completely safe for confidential content, sensitive data, or proprietary information. No network requests are made during text processing.

What's the maximum text length supported?

There's no hard limit, but very large texts (over 100,000 characters) may cause slight delays depending on your device performance. For best performance and instant results, work with reasonable text lengths under 50,000 characters.

Can I use negative numbers for the limit?

No. The limit must be a positive number. Enter 0 or leave the field empty to see the full text without truncation. Negative values are automatically ignored to prevent unexpected behavior.