Sort lines
Sort lines alphabetically, ascending or descending.
Sort lines alphabetically sorts each line of a text block (one item per line) either A→Z or Z→A, with an option for case-sensitive sorting.
How to use
- Paste your text, one item per line.
- Choose ascending or descending order.
Common use scenarios
- Alphabetizing a list of names, tags, or references.
- Sorting a list of file names or identifiers for easier scanning.
- Putting a bibliography or reference list into alphabetical order.
- Sorting a word list for a study guide or glossary.
✓Content & verification reviewed: 2026-08-25
How we verify Sort lines
How to confirm the sort order matches what you actually need.
Alphabetical, not numeric, sorting
Sorting compares lines as text, character by character — this means numbers sort alphabetically too, so "10" comes before "2" (since "1" is a smaller character than "2"), which surprises people expecting numeric order.
Case-sensitivity affects ordering
With case-sensitive sorting on, uppercase and lowercase letters sort by their character codes (typically all uppercase letters before all lowercase) — turning it off sorts case-insensitively, which usually matches how people expect an alphabetized list to look.
One item per line is assumed
The tool treats each line as one sortable item — if your list has items spanning multiple lines, they'll be split and sorted as separate entries rather than kept together.
Before you rely on the result
- Your list has exactly one item per line before sorting.
- You've picked ascending (A→Z) or descending (Z→A) as needed.
- If your list contains numbers, you're aware they'll sort alphabetically, not numerically.
- You've picked the case-sensitivity setting that matches how you want mixed-case items ordered.
Who this is for
- Anyone alphabetizing a list of names, tags, or references.
- People sorting file names or identifiers to make them easier to scan.
- Writers and researchers putting a bibliography into alphabetical order.
- Students or teachers sorting a word list for a study guide or glossary.
Real-world examples
Alphabetizing a contact list
Someone pastes in a list of names collected in no particular order and sorts them A→Z to make the list easier to scan and reference.
Ordering a bibliography
A researcher pastes their reference list, one entry per line, and sorts it alphabetically by first author's last name to match a required citation format.
Sorting a vocabulary list for study
A teacher pastes a list of vocabulary words and sorts them alphabetically to create an easy-to-navigate study glossary for students.
Limitations
- Sorting is alphabetical, not numeric — "10" sorts before "2" unless you account for that yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Why did "10" sort before "2" in my list of numbers?
Sorting is alphabetical (character by character), not numeric — "1" is treated as a smaller character than "2", so "10" sorts before "2". If you need numeric order, you'll need to sort the numbers yourself or pad them with leading zeros first.
What does case-sensitive sorting change?
With it on, uppercase letters sort separately from lowercase letters (based on character codes, typically putting all-uppercase words before lowercase ones) — with it off, sorting ignores case, usually matching the alphabetization people expect.
Can I sort a list where items span multiple lines?
Not directly — the tool treats each line as one item, so multi-line entries would need to be condensed to a single line each before sorting, or the items will be split apart.
Does sorting remove duplicate lines?
No — sorting only reorders lines; if you also want to remove duplicates, use the Remove duplicate lines tool, either before or after sorting depending on what you need.
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