Putting a list in order
Sorting a list is the kind of job a spreadsheet makes heavy going of: paste, split into columns, sort, copy back. Here you paste the lines, pick an order and copy the result. Everything happens in the browser, so a list of customers or passwords never leaves your machine.
What each option does
- A to Z / Z to A: alphabetical, using your language's own rules rather than raw character codes.
- Shortest / longest: by line length, with alphabetical order breaking ties.
- Reverse: flips the list as it stands, without sorting.
- Shuffle: a genuine random order — useful for draws, test data and rotating a list.
Natural number ordering
Plain alphabetical sorting puts "item 10" before "item 2", because it compares one character at a time. With natural ordering on, runs of digits are compared as numbers, so item 1, item 2 and item 10 land in the order you expect. That matters for file names, invoice numbers and version strings.
How to use the line sorter
- Paste your list, one item per line.
- Pick the order and adjust the switches — trimming spaces and dropping blank lines are on by default.
- Copy or download the result, or tick "number the result" to get a numbered list.
Related jobs
- To remove repeats, use the unique switch here, or the dedicated Remove Duplicate Lines tool for the full options.
- To compare two lists line by line, use Text Compare.
- To strip stray spaces and blank lines first, Remove Extra Spaces does exactly that.
Frequently asked questions
How do I sort a list alphabetically online?
Paste the list with one item per line, choose "A to Z" and copy the result. Nothing is uploaded — the sorting happens in your browser.
Why does item 10 come before item 2 in some tools?
Because plain alphabetical sorting compares characters, and "1" comes before "2". Tick "sort numbers naturally" here and digits are compared as numbers instead.
Can I shuffle a list randomly?
Yes — choose "Shuffle at random". Each change reshuffles, so you can keep drawing until you are happy with the order.