Clean Python Tracebacks
Before You Share Them
Stack traces leak file paths, API keys and emails. Scrub them out before posting to StackOverflow, GitHub Issues, or Slack — in one paste, in your browser.
Why Python Stack Traces Leak More Than You Think
When Python crashes, the traceback includes the full absolute path to every file in the call stack — exposing your username, project structure, and server layout to anyone who reads it. Beyond paths, Django errors can surface SECRET_KEY, Flask config dumps expose database URLs, and FastAPI validation errors include raw request payloads with whatever the user submitted.
Most developers manually scan their traceback before posting — but a 30-line error with nested calls is easy to miss. This tool runs comprehensive regex patterns against the entire block in under a millisecond, catching everything in one pass.
What Gets Detected & Removed
| Type | Example (Before) | After Sanitization |
|---|---|---|
| Traceback file paths | File '/home/john/app.py' | File '[PATH_REDACTED]' |
| Email addresses | user@company.com | [EMAIL_REDACTED] |
| IPv4 addresses | 192.168.1.100 | [IP_ADDRESS] |
| Phone numbers | +1-555-123-4567 | [PHONE_REDACTED] |
| OpenAI API keys | sk-proj-abc123... | [CRITICAL_KEY_REDACTED] |
| AWS access keys | AKIAIOSFODNN7EXAMPLE | [CRITICAL_KEY_REDACTED] |
Where Are You Sharing the Traceback?
| Destination | Risk if Unsanitized | Sanitize First? |
|---|---|---|
| StackOverflow | Publicly indexed, visible forever | ⚠️ Always |
| GitHub Issues | Public repos scanned by key-harvesting bots | ⚠️ Always |
| ChatGPT / Claude | Data sent to AI provider servers | ⚠️ Always |
| Slack / Discord | Workspace members + possible integrations | ⚠️ Recommended |
| Sentry / Datadog | Third-party vendor storage | ⚠️ Recommended |
| Internal Jira ticket | Low risk if truly internal | Optional |
Framework-Specific Leak Patterns
DEBUG=True exposes SECRET_KEY in ImproperlyConfigured errors. Database URLs appear in OperationalError messages. ALLOWED_HOSTS values leak in DisallowedHost exceptions.
app.config dumps database URIs in connection errors. Template render errors include the full file path to your templates directory.
ValidationError responses include the full request payload — whatever the user submitted, including passwords and tokens in form fields.
Cell output shows DataFrames with real user data. %debug magic exposes local variable values including credentials stored in variables.
FAQ
Is it safe to paste production Python errors here? +
Yes. All processing runs in your browser. Zero server uploads. You can verify by opening DevTools → Network tab and watching for zero outgoing requests while sanitizing.
Does it handle asyncio and Celery tracebacks? +
Yes. Asyncio nested coroutine traces, Celery task errors, and multiprocessing exceptions all go through the same sanitization. File paths and secrets are detected regardless of the traceback structure.
What's the difference between this and the general Log Sanitizer? +
This tool adds Python-specific path detection — it recognises the File "/path/to/script.py" traceback format and redacts the path while preserving the rest of the line. The general Log Sanitizer handles all languages but doesn't have this Python-specific pattern.
Will sanitizing break the traceback for debugging purposes? +
No. The exception type, line numbers, function names, and error messages are all preserved. Only the sensitive values (paths, keys, emails) are replaced with labelled placeholders — the traceback remains fully readable and debuggable.
Does this work with pytest and unittest output? +
Yes. Pytest failure output and unittest tracebacks follow the same File "..." format and are sanitized the same way. Useful before sharing failing CI logs with external contributors.
Clean Your Traceback Now
Paste at the top of this page. No account. No uploads. Works on any device.
↑ Back to Tool