Information to look for first
The top things to check are API keys, access tokens, cookies, private keys, passwords, and connection strings. It's not always safe to just hide some of it, so remove it from your code completely.
Next, check customer names, email addresses, internal domains, IP addresses, hostnames, project names, and file paths. These details often remain in comments, exception messages, and test data.
- Environment variable values and configuration files
- HTTP headers, URL query strings, and log output
- Real data embedded in SQL or JSON
- Screenshot or attachment name
Steps to prepare safely
- Copy only the minimum amount of code that can reproduce the problem into your working text.
- Remove credentials and personal information first. Revoke and reissue any affected keys if necessary.
- Mask identifiers, strings, numbers, and comments with tools that match your code format.
- Search the output for original proper nouns, then confirm that no sensitive information remains and that the syntax is still intact.
Examples where masking alone is not enough
Company names or production URLs in the question—and notifications visible in a screenshot—can still disclose information even when the code itself is masked. Review the entire message and every attachment as a single package before sharing.
If you accidentally send confidential information, don't just delete the conversation; follow your organization's procedures, including revoking credentials, checking access history, and contacting your administrator.
Develop Tools processing takes place within the browser. However, it is safest to delete your credentials before entering them into the tool.
Try It in Your Browser
Your input is processed entirely in your browser. Keep the original data, review the output, and only then save or share it.
Select a masking tool from supported languages