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Notepad

Code editor in your browser · multiple tabs, syntax highlighting, markdown preview

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Free Online Notepad & Web-Based Code Editor

Line numbers · tabs · syntax highlighting · JSON pretty-print · works offline · no sign-up — a free online Notepad++ alternative that runs entirely in your browser.

This online notepad is a fast, distraction-free text and code editor that runs entirely in your browser — no install, no signup, and no upload. Open the page and start typing immediately. Everything you write is auto-saved to your own device using local browser storage, so your notes are still here the next time you visit. Nothing is ever sent to a server, which makes it a genuinely private place to draft code, jot quick notes, or clean up text.

Under the hood it uses the same CodeMirror engine that powers many professional editors, giving you real syntax highlighting, line numbers, bracket matching, code folding, find & replace, multiple tabs, and one-click code formatting. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook, iPad, Android, and any modern browser — your browser is the editor.

People reach for it as an online notepad with autosave, an online scratchpad for throwaway notes, a notepad that works offline on a flight, or an online notepad with no login when they just need a blank page fast. It doubles as a quick online JSON formatter, a place to draft Markdown, clean up messy text, or sketch a snippet before pasting it back into your project.

What you can do with it

Write & edit code

Syntax highlighting for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, JSON, SQL, KQL, Java, C, C++, C#, PHP, Ruby, Go, Rust, YAML and more.

Live preview

Instantly render HTML pages and Markdown side-by-side as you type, then export the result to a styled HTML file or PDF.

Multi-tab workspace

Keep several files open at once. Each tab auto-saves separately and reopens exactly where you left off.

Save & share

Save straight back to a file on disk, download a copy, copy everything to the clipboard, or generate a shareable link.

Clean & transform text

Sort lines A→Z or numerically, remove duplicate or blank lines, change case, trim whitespace, Base64 and URL encode/decode, and minify or format JSON — a full online text toolbox.

Find, replace & compare

Notepad++-style find & replace with regex and capture groups, a VS Code-style command palette, multi-cursor editing, and a side-by-side diff to compare two files online.

How to use the online notepad

  1. Start typing — the editor is ready the moment the page loads, no account needed.
  2. Pick a language from the dropdown (or open a file and it's detected automatically) to turn on syntax highlighting.
  3. Format and preview — press Shift+Alt+F to auto-format, or toggle the live preview for HTML and Markdown.
  4. Save your work — hit Ctrl+S to save to disk, or use Copy / Share to send it elsewhere. Your tabs also auto-save locally.

Notepad vs other editors

FeatureThis notepadNotepad++VS Code
Runs in any browserYesNo (Windows app)No (install)
Install requiredNoneYesYes
Works on phone / tabletYesNoLimited
Auto-save locallyYesYesYes
Account / loginNeverNoOptional
PriceFreeFreeFree

For heavy projects a full desktop IDE still wins, but when you just need to open something now — on any machine, with zero setup — a browser-based editor is hard to beat. It's ideal for quick snippets, interview coding, Markdown drafts, config files, and scratch notes.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Notepad++ online? Can I use this as a Notepad++ alternative?

Yes. Notepad++ is a Windows-only desktop program, but this is a free browser-based Notepad++ alternative that works the same way for most everyday tasks: syntax highlighting for many languages, line numbers, multiple tabs, find & replace, code folding, and one-click formatting. It runs on any device — Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, iPad or Android — with no install and no sign-up, which the desktop app can't do. (This tool is independent and not affiliated with the Notepad++ project.)

Does the online notepad have line numbers and tabs?

Yes. The editor shows line numbers in the gutter and supports multiple tabs, so you can keep several files or notes open at once. Each tab autosaves separately and reopens exactly where you left off. You also get bracket matching, code folding, and find & replace.

What is a browser-based code editor and how does it differ from traditional editors?

A browser-based code editor is a text editing tool that runs directly in your web browser without requiring any software installation. Unlike traditional desktop editors like Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or Notepad++, this approach offers immediate accessibility from any device with a web browser. You can access your code from work computers, laptops, tablets, or any machine without setup time. The editor features instant auto-save functionality using localStorage, meaning all your notes and code persist between visits on the same device. This online notepad is ideal for quick coding snippets, prototyping, learning new languages, writing scripts, or temporary documentation before integration into your main project.

Is my code automatically saved and where is it stored exactly?

Yes, auto-save is enabled by default and operates continuously. Your code is saved to your browser's localStorage on your local device—it is never uploaded to any external server, maintaining complete privacy and security. This means your sensitive code, passwords, or confidential notes remain exclusively on your device. The auto-save mechanism triggers as you type, so no data is lost even if your browser crashes or your connection drops. Data syncs automatically across all tabs on the same browser, allowing seamless work across multiple windows. Your data persists until you manually clear browser history or localStorage, giving you reliable backup on your device itself.

What programming languages support syntax highlighting in this editor?

This free code editor supports an extensive range of programming languages with powerful syntax highlighting. Coverage includes JavaScript, Python, JSON, HTML, CSS, XML, SQL, KQL (Kusto Query Language), Markdown, Ruby, PHP, Java, C, C++, C#, Go, Rust, and many others. Syntax highlighting is powered by the industry-standard CodeMirror library, providing accurate color-coding for keywords, strings, comments, and functions. Additional features include automatic bracket matching, code folding for complex functions, line numbering, and intelligent indentation. This makes the editor suitable for developers, data scientists, and students working across multiple programming languages and frameworks.

Can I use this online notepad without creating an account or logging in?

Absolutely—no account is required whatsoever. Start typing immediately upon opening the tool. This zero-friction approach provides a completely distraction-free experience perfect for developers who want to focus purely on coding without account setup, password management, or authentication delays. The tool is designed specifically for rapid access and immediate productivity, making it ideal for quick coding tasks, interview preparations, algorithm solutions, or temporary script development without the overhead of account creation.

How do I export or download my code from this text editor?

Export your work easily with a single click. Save straight back to a file on disk with Ctrl+S, download a copy, or copy everything to your clipboard. Markdown can be exported to a styled .html file or printed to PDF. This makes it simple to integrate with your development workflow, version control systems like Git, or share with teammates and collaborators.

Does this browser text editor work completely offline after loading?

Yes, complete offline functionality. Once the editor loads, all features work entirely offline without any internet connection. Your code saves locally to browser storage, and all editing capabilities function perfectly in offline mode. This makes it perfect for airplane mode, unreliable connectivity situations, or privacy-conscious development scenarios where you want zero data transmission to external servers.

What features make this better than VS Code, Sublime Text, or Notepad++?

While full IDE replacements like VS Code offer extensive features, this browser-based editor excels in accessibility and simplicity. Zero installation required, instant access from any device, built-in syntax highlighting, line numbers, find-and-replace functionality, and automatic local storage make this ideal for rapid coding tasks, learning, and prototyping. For quick edits, interview coding, or when you need a lightweight solution without IDE overhead, this editor provides an optimal balance of power and simplicity.

Is there an online notepad with autosave that keeps my notes between visits?

Yes — autosave is built in. Every keystroke is saved to your browser's localStorage as you type, and each tab reopens exactly where you left off the next time you visit on the same device and browser. There's nothing to click and no account to set up: close the tab, come back later, and your notes are still here. Because the data lives on your device and not on a server, it stays private.

Can I use it as a quick online scratchpad with no login?

Absolutely. This is designed to be the fastest blank page on the internet — open it and start typing with no login, no signup, and no install. It's ideal as a temporary online scratchpad for pasting and cleaning up text, jotting a quick note, working out an idea, or holding something on the clipboard between apps. Keep one tab open and it becomes your always-available scratch space.

Can it format or tidy JSON?

Yes. Paste your JSON, select the JSON language, and press Shift+Alt+F to pretty-print and indent it — a handy lightweight online JSON formatter. Syntax highlighting and bracket matching make it easy to spot a misplaced comma or brace, and the same one-click formatting works for HTML, CSS and JavaScript too.

Does it have find & replace with regex support?

Yes. Press Ctrl+F to open a Notepad++-style find & replace popup with match case, whole word, regular expressions (including capture groups like $1 in replacements), and wrap-around search. All matches are highlighted live with a running "3 of 17" counter, F3 / Shift+F3 jump to the next or previous match, and Replace All handles the whole document in one undo step.

Can I compare two files online and see the differences (diff)?

Yes. Open both texts in two tabs and hit the ⇆ Diff button (or View → Compare Tabs) to get a side-by-side comparison with added, removed, and changed lines colour-coded — changed lines even highlight the exact characters that differ. Scrolling is synchronised between the panes and a summary shows how many lines were added, removed, or modified. Everything runs locally in your browser, so it's a private online diff tool too: nothing is uploaded.

Is there a command palette like VS Code?

Yes. Press Ctrl+Shift+P to open a command palette with fuzzy search over every command in the editor — file operations, search, view toggles, and all the text transforms. Type a few letters, arrow down, hit Enter. If you know VS Code or Sublime Text, your muscle memory works here.

Does it support multi-cursor editing?

Yes. Press Ctrl+D to select the next occurrence of the current word and edit them all at once, or hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and click to place extra cursors anywhere. You also get Sublime-style line operations: duplicate line (Ctrl+Shift+D), delete line (Ctrl+Shift+K), move lines up/down, and join lines (Ctrl+J).

Can I sort lines, remove duplicate lines, or change text case online?

Yes — the Transform menu is a full text toolbox: sort lines A→Z, Z→A or numerically, remove duplicate lines, remove blank lines, reverse lines, UPPERCASE / lowercase / Title Case, trim trailing whitespace, Base64 encode/decode, URL encode/decode, and JSON minify. Each transform applies to your selection if you have one, or the whole document if you don't.

Can I open a whole folder and edit local files?

Yes, in Chrome and Edge. Click 📁 Folder (or File → Open Folder) and pick a folder on your computer — a file tree sidebar appears, just like a desktop editor. Click any file to open it in a tab, edit, and press Ctrl+S to save straight back to the original file on disk. The browser asks for your permission first, and file contents never leave your machine.

Can I restore a closed tab or save my workspace as a session?

Yes. Alt+Shift+T reopens recently closed tabs (up to the last 20). And under File → Sessions you can save your current set of tabs under a name — "work", "scratch", "blog drafts" — and load it back any time. Sessions are stored in your browser's local storage, so they stay private and survive restarts.

What languages is the notepad interface available in?

The interface is available in 12 languages: English, Nederlands (Dutch), Español (Spanish), العربية (Arabic), Bahasa Indonesia, Français (French), Português (Portuguese), Русский (Russian), 日本語 (Japanese), Deutsch (German), हिन्दी (Hindi) and 中文 (Chinese). Click the 🌐 globe icon in the top bar to switch — the menus, toolbar and every command translate instantly, and your choice is remembered on your next visit. (Note: this changes the interface language only; your text and syntax highlighting are unaffected.)

Is this tool free?

Yes, completely free. One of 122 free tools at jasperbernaers.com.

Related free tools

Part of a collection of 122 free, no-signup browser tools. A few that pair well with the notepad: