Find and Replace Guide: Replacing Text Without Missing Occurrences
Learn how case options change a replacement and why literal replacement matters.
What is the Find and Replace Tool?
This tool replaces all occurrences of your search text with your replacement text. Choose case-sensitive matching for exact matches, or case-insensitive matching to catch every capitalisation. The replacement is treated literally, so special characters in it are not reinterpreted.
How to use it
- Paste or type your text into the box.
- Enter the text to find and the replacement text.
- Choose case-sensitive or case-insensitive matching, then click Replace.
Worked example
For the sample, the tool makes 2 replacements, changing both occurrences of cat to dog, and reports the replacement count followed by the new text.
Why did a replacement change more than I expected?
Usually because case-insensitive matching was on, so Cat, CAT and cat were all replaced. Switch to case-sensitive matching for exact-only replacements.
Frequently asked questions
Does it replace only the first occurrence?
No. It replaces every occurrence in the text.
What is the difference between the two match options?
Case-sensitive matching only replaces the exact capitalisation you typed, while case-insensitive matching replaces every capitalisation of the same letters.