Sensitive Text Redactor
Automatically detect and redact personally identifiable information (PII) from text. Finds SSNs, email addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers, IP addresses, dates, and URLs. Preview highlighted matches before redacting. 100% browser-based.
All PII detection and redaction runs entirely in your browser using regex pattern matching. Your text is never transmitted to any server. This is critical since the purpose of redacting sensitive data is to prevent exposure.
Key Facts
- PII Detection: Scans for 7 categories of personally identifiable information using regex pattern matching: SSNs, emails, phone numbers, credit cards, IPs, dates, and URLs
- Preview Before Redacting: Matched data is highlighted in the preview so you can verify detections before applying redactions
- Selective Redaction: Toggle each detection type on or off. Need to keep dates but redact emails? Just uncheck Dates
- Redaction Format: Sensitive data is replaced with labeled placeholders like [SSN REDACTED], [EMAIL REDACTED] for clear audit trails
- Limitations: Regex-based detection is a first pass. It cannot detect context-dependent PII like names, addresses, or custom identifiers. Always review manually
What This Tool Detects
- SSNs: US Social Security Numbers in XXX-XX-XXXX format. Also catches variants with spaces or no separators
- Email Addresses: Standard email format (user@domain.tld). Catches most valid email patterns
- Phone Numbers: US formats: (555) 123-4567, 555-123-4567, +1-555-123-4567, and international +XX patterns
- Credit Card Numbers: 13-19 digit sequences with optional spaces or dashes. Matches Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover patterns
- IP Addresses: IPv4 addresses (192.168.1.1). Validates each octet is 0-255
- Dates: Common formats: MM/DD/YYYY, DD-MM-YYYY, YYYY-MM-DD, and Month DD, YYYY
- URLs: HTTP and HTTPS URLs with paths and query strings
When to Use a Text Redactor
- Sharing Logs: Redact customer emails, IPs, and session IDs from server logs before sharing with external developers or posting in bug reports
- Screenshots & Documents: Clean text content before sharing in presentations, Slack channels, or support tickets
- GDPR Compliance: Remove PII from data exports, analytics reports, and customer communication archives
- HIPAA Compliance: Redact patient information from medical records, insurance forms, and clinical notes
- Legal Discovery: Sanitize documents before sharing with opposing counsel to protect privileged or irrelevant PII
- Customer Support: Redact credit card numbers and SSNs from support ticket transcripts before archiving
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PII and why should it be redacted?
PII (Personally Identifiable Information) is any data that can identify a specific individual — Social Security Numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers, IP addresses, and dates of birth. Redacting PII before sharing documents, logs, or screenshots prevents identity theft, complies with privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA), and protects individuals from harm.
What types of data does this tool detect?
The tool detects SSNs (XXX-XX-XXXX), email addresses, US and international phone numbers, credit card numbers (13-19 digit sequences), IPv4 addresses, dates in multiple formats, and URLs. Each detection type can be individually toggled on or off for selective redaction.
Is my text uploaded to a server?
No. All detection and redaction runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript regex patterns. Your text never leaves your device. This is critical since the whole purpose of redacting sensitive data is to prevent exposure.
Can this tool miss sensitive data?
Yes. Regex-based detection cannot catch every format variation, misspelled names, physical addresses, or context-dependent PII (like "my address is 123 Main St"). This tool is a first-pass automated filter. Always review redacted output manually before sharing, especially for legal or compliance purposes.
What format are redactions in?
Redacted data is replaced with labeled placeholders like [SSN REDACTED], [EMAIL REDACTED], [PHONE REDACTED]. This format makes it clear what type of data was removed and creates an audit trail showing that redaction was performed.