Regex Escape / Unescape
Free online tool · runs in your browser
Make text safe for regex patterns.
Quick tutorial
- 1Enter text.
- 2Choose Escape or Unescape.
Free online regex escape / unescape
Escape regex metacharacters so a string is matched literally — dots, parentheses, brackets, and dollar signs become \. \( \[ \$. Unescape simple backslash sequences when you need the raw text back. Use this before embedding user input inside a larger pattern.
How to use Regex Escape / Unescape
- Enter text.
- Choose Escape or Unescape.
Limitations
- Unescape only handles simple backslash sequences safely.
Example
Input
a.b(c)
Output
a\.b\(c\)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to escape regex characters?
Characters like . * + ? ( ) [ ] { } ^ $ | \ have special meaning. Escaping them matches the character itself.
Is unescape always safe?
Only simple backslash sequences are unescaped. Ambiguous or invalid sequences are left alone or rejected.
Why escape?
To search for literal special characters in regex.
Is Regex Escape / Unescape free to use?
Yes. Regex Escape / Unescape on ShadowReference is free, with no account, no watermarks, and no server-side processing.
Does this tool send my data to a server?
No. All processing happens locally in your browser. Your input never leaves your device.
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