Paste or upload text
Paste text or select a TXT, Markdown, CSV, JSON, LOG, or HTML file. Files are read by the browser and are not sent to a counting server.
PRIVATE TEXT WORKBENCH
Character Counter: Count Characters in Text Online
Use this character counter to paste or type text and see the exact character total, with-spaces count, letters, digits, line breaks, words, and longest line in your browser. Unicode characters are counted as visible code points rather than split JavaScript code units.
- Runs in your browser
- Updates as you type
- Counts spaces and Unicode
- No account or required upload
01
INPUT
Paste your text
Paste a caption, essay, form answer, message, code sample, or any plain text. The character counter updates as you edit.
Example result shown. Edit the text to calculate your own count.
Counted locally in this browser; the normal workflow does not upload your text.
02
LIVE RESULTS
Your character count
Example resultExample
52Characters
48Without spaces
42Letters
0Digits
4Spaces
3Lines
7Words
22Longest line
Line endingCode points
Line preview
3 lines shown- 1Count every character.22 chars
- 2Spaces matter.14 chars
- 3Unicode: cafe.14 chars
The preview keeps line breaks visible and shows each row's length. Long inputs show 200 lines; CSV export includes every line.
Up to 500,000 characters; the first 200 logical lines are previewed. Plain text only - no OCR, document conversion, or code execution.
A SIMPLE WORKFLOW
How to use this character counter
Decide whether spaces and line breaks belong in the limit, then use the live result.
Choose the counting rule
Keep spaces and line breaks for most limits, or turn either option off when a brief asks for a narrower count. Normalize mixed endings when comparing files.
Review the live result
Check total characters, characters without spaces, letters, digits, spaces, lines, words, and longest-line length. The preview makes hidden breaks easier to find.
Copy or export
Copy a summary for a teammate or download a line-by-line CSV when you need a record of the input.
COUNTING RULES
What counts as a character?
Different editors report different totals because they include or exclude spaces, line breaks, or Unicode details. This page shows the active rule beside the result instead of hiding it in a tooltip.
Characters with spaces
The main total includes letters, punctuation, symbols, spaces, tabs, and line breaks when both options are enabled. This is the useful default for social captions, application forms, and message limits.
Characters without spaces
The supporting total removes whitespace from the same text. It helps compare a content limit that ignores formatting with a limit that counts every typed position.
Line breaks and endings
LF, CRLF, and CR are recognized. Normalize line endings to treat the same logical rows consistently; the detected ending remains visible so you can explain a difference between tools.
Unicode and emoji
The counter uses JavaScript code points for its visible totals, so a common emoji is not split into two UTF-16 code units. Combining marks and grapheme clusters can still be rendered as multiple code points.
The character counter is a plain-text measurement tool. It does not interpret HTML tags, Markdown formatting, programming syntax, or rendered font width. The exact total depends on the visible input string and the selected whitespace options.
MORE THAN ONE NUMBER
What you can measure with one character count
The primary character count answers the limit question. Supporting metrics explain what makes up that number, so you can revise a message without guessing which spaces, digits, or line breaks are responsible.
Character count for limits
Use the main total for captions, subject lines, form fields, profile bios, prompts, and any brief that states a maximum character count. Toggle spaces or line breaks to match the brief.
Letters, digits, and spaces
Letters and digits show content while spaces show formatting positions. This helps when a short message contains unexpected padding.
Rows and longest line
Line count and longest-line length add context for code, CSV, Markdown, logs, and terminal output. They do not change the main total.
A line-by-line CSV record
The CSV includes line number, original line text, and code-point length. Use it when a review needs to see where a long row or blank row occurs rather than only the final total.
PRACTICAL USE CASES
Common uses for a character counter
A character counter helps with limits that are hard to estimate by eye. Use it for a sentence, draft, code excerpt, or supported text file without an account or editor install.
Captions and short posts
Check a caption before publishing and keep spaces included when the platform's limit counts every typed position. The live number lets you trim one phrase at a time.
Applications and profile fields
Many forms show a character limit rather than a word limit. Paste the answer, leave spaces enabled, and check the result before submitting.
Essays, abstracts, and drafts
Measure an abstract or short response with and without spaces. The two numbers make it clear whether a requirement describes characters, letters, or the complete typed string.
Code, configuration, and data
Inspect source snippets, JSON, CSV, YAML, or logs as text. The tool does not run code or validate syntax; it simply reports characters, rows, and the longest line.
SMS-style and support messages
Compare a concise message with its formatted version. Spaces and line breaks can be switched off for a secondary view, while the original text remains editable.
Sensitive drafts that stay local
The normal workflow calculates in this browser. Clear the editor on a shared device; extensions and clipboard history are outside the page's control.
PLAIN-TEXT FILES
How to count characters in a text file
Use Upload file or drag a supported file into the editor. The browser reads the file as text, then the same character rules and preview apply as they do to pasted content.
TXT, Markdown, CSV, JSON, LOG, and HTML text files up to 500,000 characters are accepted. PDFs, images, scans, and binary documents need extraction first; this tool does not perform OCR or document conversion.
- 01
Select a readable file
Choose a plain-text file and check the filename shown beside the editor. If decoding fails, the original input remains available and the error explains what to try.
- 02
Confirm the limit
Watch the character counter at the bottom of the input. Oversized text is reported instead of silently truncated, so you can shorten it deliberately.
- 03
Inspect the rows
Review line endings, longest line, whitespace totals, and the first 200 rows. Export CSV when the complete file needs a line-level record.
LOCAL BY DESIGN
Your text stays in this browser
No account or required upload is part of the normal character-counting workflow. The page uses JavaScript to count pasted text or a selected file in the current tab. The File API reads a supported file locally, and the normal path does not send its text body to a conversion server.
Local processing is not a universal security guarantee. Extensions, clipboard history, and screenshots can expose content. Avoid restricted text and clear the editor on shared devices.
No required upload
Paste text or read a supported file locally; the count is calculated in the page.
No account step
Works without sign-in, an API key, or a server-side job.
The rule stays visible
The result shows the active line ending and the options used for the main total.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Character counter FAQ
Use these answers to compare Unicode counts, file limits, and privacy with another editor or platform.
How do I count characters in text?
Paste or type the text into the character counter. The live result shows characters with the current space and line-break settings, plus a supporting count without spaces.
Does a character count include spaces?
Yes, the main total includes spaces by default. Turn off Include spaces when a requirement asks for a count that excludes spaces; the result always keeps a separate without-spaces value.
Do line breaks count as characters?
They do by default because they are part of the input string. Turn off Include line breaks when the limit excludes row separators, and keep Normalize line endings on when comparing CRLF and LF files.
How are emoji and Unicode characters counted?
The counter measures JavaScript Unicode code points, so common emoji are not split into two UTF-16 code units. A grapheme made from multiple code points can still occupy more than one count.
Can I count characters in a code or CSV file?
Yes. Paste or upload plain text such as source code, JSON, CSV, Markdown, configuration, or logs. The tool measures text and does not interpret syntax, execute code, or count rendered HTML width.
Can I count characters without spaces?
Yes. The result always shows Characters without spaces beside the main total, so you can compare the two without changing the original input.
Does this character counter store my text?
The normal workflow does not need an upload or account and performs the count in the browser. Clear the editor on a shared device; extensions and clipboard history remain outside the page's control.
What is the largest text file this tool accepts?
The published limit is 500,000 characters. Mobile memory can affect comfort, the visual preview stops at 200 lines, and the CSV export keeps the full line list.
READY TO CHECK
Check your next character limit
Paste a message, choose the rule that matches your brief, and use the live result or CSV record while keeping the original text editable.