How to extract times from text
Paste a passage or choose Upload for a supported text file. Time Extractor lists each 12-hour or 24-hour match, keeps seconds when they appear, and shows the raw text beside its normalized value and source context.
How to use the Time Extractor
- Paste text into the input area, or type it there. The rows update as the text changes.
- Select Upload and choose a
.txt,.csv,.log, or.mdfile. - Read the extracted rows below the input. The results section stays hidden while the input is empty.
How to filter and normalize clock times
Each row shows Format, Raw Match, Normalized (24h), Seconds, and Source Context. The Format menu has All formats, 12-hour, and 24-hour. Unique times only keeps the first row for each normalized value, so 9:30 AM and 09:30 become one displayed time when they normalize to the same value.
Input: Meeting at 9:30 AM. Log entry at 14:05:42.
Output: 12h | 9:30 AM | 09:30
24h | 14:05:42 | 14:05:42- Use Format to choose All formats, 12-hour, or 24-hour.
- Enable Unique times only to keep the first occurrence of each normalized value.
- Select Reset filters to return to All formats and include repeated values again.
Source Context includes up to 40 characters before and after a match. The tool collapses whitespace and adds an ellipsis when text is cut from either side. If a filter removes every row, the table says No times found.
Copy includes a header and tab-separated columns for the filtered rows. CSV uses those same rows and includes Source Context. The buttons stay inactive when no rows remain.
What time formats does the extractor recognize?
For 12-hour clock times, the hour is 1 through 12 and an AM/PM marker is required. Periods are allowed in the marker, so 3pm, 9:30 AM, 12:05:42 pm, and 7:00 p.m. are recognized. For 24-hour times, hours run from 00 to 23, minutes from 00 to 59, and optional seconds from 00 to 59.
The normalized value uses HH:MM when seconds are absent and HH:MM:SS when they are present. The matcher skips values outside those ranges and written forms that do not fit these patterns. It reserves each 12-hour match before scanning for 24-hour values, so one text span produces one row.
When to use this time extractor
Use Time Extractor when a report mixes entries such as 9:30 AM, 3pm, and 23:59 and you need one list of clock times. Paste the report, filter to 24-hour rows, and download the filtered table as CSV.
For a schedule containing 7:00 p.m. and 09:00, select Unique times only and copy the normalized rows.
For dates, choose the Date Extractor. For web addresses, choose Extract URLs from Text. For numeric values without clock-time rules, choose Number Extractor; these tools are part of Text Parsing & Data Extraction.
What Time Extractor does not extract
This tool extracts clock-time expressions. It does not extract dates, interpret a date and time together, resolve timezone abbreviations, or convert between timezones. The extraction code reads the input in browser JavaScript and does not submit entered text to the tool server.
Frequently asked questions
How do I extract times from text?
Paste text into the input area or select Upload for a supported text file. The extracted rows appear in Extracted Times with the raw match and its normalized 24-hour value.
Can I extract 12-hour and 24-hour times together?
Yes. Time Extractor scans for both formats in the same input. Use Format to show All formats, 12-hour, or 24-hour rows.
How are clock times converted to 24-hour format?
Each match becomes HH:MM, or HH:MM:SS when the original includes seconds. For example, 9:30 PM becomes 21:30.
Does Time Extractor handle dates or timezones?
No. It extracts clock-time expressions and leaves dates, timezone abbreviations, and timezone conversion outside its matching rules.
Does pasted text stay in the browser?
The extraction code does not submit entered text to the tool server. It parses the input in browser JavaScript, then renders the matches on the page.