Alphabetical Order Tool
Put any list in alphabetical order (A to Z) or reverse alphabetical order (Z to A) instantly. Sort lines, words, or comma-separated items, remove duplicates, and copy your alphabetized list in one click.
Whether you call it alphabetical order tool or alphabetize list, this free tool handles it instantly in your browser.
Options
Example usage
Example input
banana apple cherry
Example output
apple banana cherry
Batch Processing
Enter multiple inputs, one per line. Each line will be processed separately.
Why this tool?
Everything runs right in your browser — no uploads, no sign-up, no waiting. Your text never leaves your device.
Quick tips
- •Outputs update live as you type.
- •Use the sticky copy button to grab results quickly.
- •Bookmark this page for fast access.
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How it works
- Paste your list with one item per line, or switch to words or comma-separated mode.
- Choose A-Z for standard alphabetical order or Z-A for reverse alphabetical order.
- Your list is sorted instantly — copy the result with one click.
Use cases
What "alphabetical order" really means (it’s trickier than A–Z)
Everyone agrees B follows A; the edge cases are where sorting styles diverge. Dictionaries use letter-by-letter ordering (ignoring spaces: "New York" before "newt" would flip), libraries historically used word-by-word, and computers default to character-code order, where Z sorts before a because capital letters have smaller code values. This tool uses locale-aware, case-insensitive comparison — the behavior people expect from a dictionary — so "apple", "Apple", and "APPLE" sort together.
Reverse alphabetical order simply runs the same comparison from Z to A. It is used for surname-balanced classroom lists (teachers alternate A–Z and Z–A years so the same kids are not always last), some legal citation formats, and countless homework assignments asking students to demonstrate they understand ordering in both directions.
Sorting technique for clean lists
Before sorting a messy list, normalize it: our Remove Duplicate Lines tool clears repeats, and trimming stray spaces prevents " apple" from sorting before "apple". Numbers sort as text here — 10 comes before 2 because comparison is character-by-character — so zero-pad numbered items (02, 10) if you need numeric order.
The words/commas modes handle the two other common shapes: alphabetizing the words inside a sentence (word mode), and sorting tag lists like "css, html, javascript" without rebuilding them line by line (comma mode).
Cleanup
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Related tools
Supporting guides
Conversion History
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FAQ
What does reverse alphabetical order mean (Z to A)?
Reverse alphabetical order means sorting from Z to A — the opposite of normal dictionary order. For example, in reverse alphabetical order the letters run Z, Y, X, W, V and so on, so "zebra" comes before "apple". Choose Z-A in the tool to sort any list this way.
What is the alphabet in reverse order?
The English alphabet in reverse order is: Z Y X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H G F E D C B A. You can generate and copy it by typing the alphabet into the tool and choosing Z-A word sorting.
How do I alphabetize a list online?
Paste your list into the box with one item per line and the tool sorts it A to Z instantly. You can also sort individual words, comma-separated items, and remove duplicates at the same time.
Does sorting ignore capital letters?
Yes. The sort is case-insensitive, so "Apple" and "apple" are treated the same and your list stays in natural dictionary order.