Extract Quoted Text
Scan prose, logs, or code for non-nested quoted spans and return their inner text in source order.
A QUICK WALKTHROUGH
How to use this tool
- Paste up to 100,000 UTF-16 code units and choose single quotes, double quotes, or both.
- Choose one match per line or keep each match on one line, then decide whether to decode escaped quotes and backslashes.
- Extract, review unmatched or nested-looking text, then copy or download the result.
Straight quotes with a bounded scanner
The tool recognizes ASCII straight single (') and double (\") marks. A backslash protects the next character while scanning, so an escaped quote does not close the span. Closed spans are returned in source order; unmatched opening marks are ignored. Input is limited to 100,000 UTF-16 code units and output to 500,000 UTF-16 code units.
Non-nested rule is explicit
This is a flat quoted-span extractor, not a programming-language parser. A quote of the other type inside a span is ordinary text; a same-type quote closes the span. Nested same-type quotes are not inferred. Line breaks inside a match become spaces. Both layout choices currently produce one match per line. With decoding enabled, the protective backslash before any next code unit is removed, not just before quotes and backslashes.
GOOD TO KNOW
Common questions
Are nested quotes parsed?
No. The scanner extracts non-nested spans only. Escape a same-type quote with a backslash when it belongs inside the span.
What happens to an unclosed quote?
Its opening mark and following text are ignored because only closed spans are returned.
Are escapes removed?
By default, escaped quote marks and backslashes are decoded in the extracted value. Turn the option off to keep the source escape characters.