Where are my notes stored?

Only in your browser's localStorage. They persist across refreshes and tab closes, but they do not sync to other devices and they are gone if you clear browser data.

Is anything sent to a server?

No. The scratchpad is fully client-side. Nothing leaves your browser.

How big can my notes be?

Limited by localStorage quota (typically 5-10 MB per origin). That is roughly several million characters — far more than a typical scratchpad ever holds.

Can I export my notes?

Yes — download as a .txt file at any time. Useful before clearing browser data or switching devices.

scratchpad · auto-save · localStorage · local

Auto-saving scratchpad

Plain-text notepad that auto-saves every keystroke to your browser's localStorage. Survives reloads and tabs — never leaves the page.

Scratchpad

Words

in text

Chars

0 B

Lines

of text

Saved

—

localStorage

scratchpad

preview

Empty pad

Quick Start

How auto-save works

Every keystroke writes to localStorage under a fixed key. Reload, close, or reopen — your notes stay until you click Clear or wipe browser data.

01
Type freely
No save button — every keystroke is persisted.
Inputs are treated as UTF-8 throughout the pipeline and validated client-side as you type — nothing dispatches until the value is well-formed.
typeinpututf-8client-sidevalidated
input · textauto · set
```
saved
```
loaded · parsedclient-side
02
Reload at will
Refreshing keeps the text intact.
Each toggle re-computes through a memoised hook, so flipping options never resets your input and the UI stays snappy on large inputs.
reloadoptionslivememoisedtoggles
reload · memoisedok · live
```
still here
```
options set · memoisedlive
03
Word count
Word, char, and line counts update live.
Randomness — where used — comes from crypto.getRandomValues, never Math.random. Heavy work sits in useMemo.
statscomputeinstantlocaldeterministic
count · instantlive · computed
```
128 words
```
computed · instantinstant
04
Copy or download
Grab the contents as text whenever you need.
Copy writes through navigator.clipboard and downloads use a Blob — zero network traffic. Same input plus same options always yield the same bytes.
exportcopydownloadzero-networkreproducible
ok · copiedready · copied
```
Copied
```
shipped · ready to shipsuccess

Pro tips

Pro tips for everyday utilities

Reach for crypto.getRandomValues

Cryptographically random for IDs, tokens, salts. Math.random is for animation and games, not security.

Sort IDs lexicographically

UUID v4 has no time ordering. Use ULID or UUID v7 if you need sorted IDs.

Mock data with seeds

Faker-style libraries can be seeded so tests are reproducible. Embed the seed in the fixture file.

Reference cards beat memory

Cheatsheets for Vim, Git, Docker, Linux signals are faster than man pages when you’re mid-flow.

Browser APIs vary

Touch events, gamepads, and clipboard differ across vendors. Feature-detect before use.

Persist in the right place

localStorage for user preferences, sessionStorage for transient state, IndexedDB for structured data.

Use Cases

When to keep a scratchpad

Quick notes, snippets, drafts.

Quick notes

Drop reminders mid-session. Random values come from crypto.getRandomValues — cryptographically secure for tokens, salts, and session IDs. Math.random is deterministic enough for animations but predictable enough to be a security bug.

CSPRNG-backed

Snippet holding

Park code/text between tabs. Pair with hashids, ULID, or UUID v7 when you need both random and sortable — useful for primary keys, public-facing IDs, and event log ordering without a sequence column.

reproducible

Drafting

Compose without opening a separate app. Output is deterministic given the same seed, so fixtures and tests stay reproducible across CI runs and contributor machines. Embed the seed in the fixture file for full replay.

snappy

JSON jotting

Sketch payload shapes before formatter. Heavy work runs through useMemo so the UI stays snappy on large inputs. Same input + same options yields identical bytes — the kind of stability snapshot tests rely on.

feature-detected

Standup notes

List talking points fast. Storage tools persist to the right backend: localStorage for user preferences, sessionStorage for transient state, IndexedDB for structured data. Pick the right shelf and quota worries disappear.

deterministic

Private journal

Stays in your browser only. Browser feature detection: clipboard, fullscreen, gamepad, and Web Bluetooth APIs gracefully fall back when unavailable. No surprise white screens on Safari or older Firefox.

production-ready

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Where is the text stored?

Your browser's localStorage, scoped to this origin. Other sites can't see it.

Will it sync to other devices?

No — localStorage is per-browser. Use a cloud notes app if you need sync.

What's the limit?

Browsers cap localStorage at ~5 MB per origin. Plenty for plain text.

Can I have multiple pads?

Use Sticky Notes for multi-card layout. This pad is a single canvas.

Does it run locally?

Yes — everything lives in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.

Suggest a tool

Something missing?

Tell us what you need. We ship the top requests every two weeks.

47 in queue·8 shipped this month

Request queued. Thanks!