--- title: "AI Quick Tips 317: Try OpenAI’s Tokenizer if you are still confused about tokens" description: Discover OpenAI's Tokenizer to better understand tokens in AI tools, their importance, and how they affect your usage and costs. image: https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hubfs/AI%20Quick%20Tips-1.jpg --- [![Thoughts Brewing Logo](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Thoughts%20Brewing%20Logo_Round_Final_Light%20Blue_Transparent%20Background-1.png?width=200&height=600&name=Thoughts%20Brewing%20Logo_Round_Final_Light%20Blue_Transparent%20Background-1.png "Thoughts Brewing Logo")](https://www.thoughtsbrewing.com/) Search toggle - [Home](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/home) - [About](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/about) About - [About Us](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/about) - [FAQs](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/faqs) - [Blog](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog) Blog - [Blog Subscription](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/blog-subscription) - [Ask A Question](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/ask-us-anything-business-tech) - 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[Home](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/home) - [About](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/about) About - [About Us](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/about) - [FAQs](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/faqs) - [Blog](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog) Blog - [Blog Subscription](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/blog-subscription) - [Ask A Question](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/ask-us-anything-business-tech) - [Blog Home](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog) - [AI Articles](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/ai) - [Articles by Damien](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/damien) - [Articles by Danielle](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/danielle) - [AI Training/Courses](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/courses) AI Training/Courses - [Next-Level AI Workshops](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/next-level-ai-workshops) - [Free ChatGPT Email Course](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/chatgpt-kickstarter-email-course) - [Request a YouTube Video](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/youtube-video-request-page) - [AI Quick Tips](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/ai-quick-tips) - [Writing Style Guide Template](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/writing-style-guide-template) - [Human + AI Playbook Template](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/human-ai-playbook) - [NotebookLM Masterclass](https://maven.com/thoughts-brewing-llc/learn-notebooklm-in-a-weekend-2-cohort) - [Fractional COO/CTO Services](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/fractional-coo/cto-services) - [Contact](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/contact) What are you looking for? # AI Quick Tips 317: Try OpenAI’s Tokenizer if you are still confused about tokens April 23, 2026 ![Picture of Damien Griffin](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/20cb51297a34e5d5d7c3362ec1fae755) [Damien Griffin](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/damien) ![AI Quick Tips](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hubfs/AI%20Quick%20Tips-1.jpg) If you’ve been using AI tools for a little while, you’ve probably heard “tokens” at some point. Tokens are how the different AI models break up sets of text. Similar to how humans break up sets of text into words. Tokens matter because they are how most things are calculated when using text-based AI tools. For example, context windows, input, output, most things that you’ll be charged for, etc.   If you pay a flat monthly fee or use a free version, you probably don’t care as much. Until you do. When you exceed a pre-defined token limit, things usually stop working or, at least, stop working well.   Anyway, OpenAI has a tool that you can use to see how some of their models turn blocks of text into tokens. The tool is called a Tokenizer and theirs is found at - [https://platform.openai.com/tokenizer](https://platform.openai.com/tokenizer)   If you’ve never heard of a token and don’t care then you probably didn’t read this far. If you did, in an effort to make your time worth it, here is a cat meme. Thank you for reading ![A close-up, low-angle photo of an orange and white tabby cat staring directly into the camera with wide, curious eyes. The cat is positioned in front of an open laptop, with its front paws stretched out and resting on the keyboard. Large, bold white text overlaid at the top of the image reads, "WHERE’S THE MOUSE?".](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Mar-29-2026-04-12-58-9791-PM.png?width=717&height=537&name=undefined-Mar-29-2026-04-12-58-9791-PM.png) ![Next Level AI Workshops Featured Image (2000 x 1000 px)](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Next%20Level%20AI%20Workshops%20Featured%20Image%20(2000%20x%201000%20px).png?width=600&height=496&name=Next%20Level%20AI%20Workshops%20Featured%20Image%20(2000%20x%201000%20px).png) #### New Model. Same Confusion. If every update feels like “cool… but what do I actually do with this?”, you’re not the problem. Get clear on what matters, what to ignore, and how to use AI without chasing every shiny release. [Use AI without the hype →](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/next-level-ai-workshops) ### Share: [Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/ai-quick-tips-317-try-openais-tokenizer-if-you-are-still-confused-about-tokens&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) [Share on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/ai-quick-tips-317-try-openais-tokenizer-if-you-are-still-confused-about-tokens&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) [Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/ai-quick-tips-317-try-openais-tokenizer-if-you-are-still-confused-about-tokens&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/ai-quick-tips-317-try-openais-tokenizer-if-you-are-still-confused-about-tokens&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=AI%20Quick%20Tips%20317:%20Try%20OpenAI’s%20Tokenizer%20if%20you%20are%20still%20confused%20about%20tokens) [AI Quick Tips](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/ai-quick-tips), [AI](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/ai), [ChatGPT](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/chatgpt), [ChatGPT5](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/chatgpt5) ## Comments ## Related posts ##### Menu - [Home](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/home) - [About](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/about) - [Blog](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog) - [AI Training/Courses](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/courses) - [Fractional COO/CTO Services](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/fractional-coo/cto-services) - [Contact](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/contact) [Privacy Policy](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/privacy-policy)   |  [Terms of Use](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/terms-of-use)    |   Herndon, VA   |   703-296-9912   |   ©2022-2026 Copyright Thoughts Brewing, LLC [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/thoughts-brewing-llc) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/@thoughtsbrewingllc) [Find us on Google](https://g.co/kgs/YhpnVFp) [Find us on Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/thoughts-brewing-herndon) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/thoughtsbrewingllc) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Damien Griffin", "url" : "https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/damien" }, "dateModified" : "2026-04-23T16:45:00.809Z", "datePublished" : "2026-04-23T16:45:00.000Z", "headline" : "AI Quick Tips 317: Try OpenAI’s Tokenizer if you are still confused about tokens", "image" : [ "https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hubfs/AI%20Quick%20Tips-1.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/ai-quick-tips-317-try-openais-tokenizer-if-you-are-still-confused-about-tokens", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hubfs/Thoughts%20Brewing%20Logo_Round_Final_Light%20Blue_Transparent%20Background-1.png" }, "name" : "Thoughts Brewing, LLC" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "United States of America", "addressLocality" : "Herndon", "addressRegion" : "Virginia", "postalCode" : "20170", "streetAddress" : "205 Van Buren Street, Suite 120" }, "email" : "contact@thoughtsbrewing.com", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://24461783.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/24461783/Thoughts%20Brewing%20Logo_Round_Final_Light%20Blue_Transparent%20Background-1.png" }, "name" : "Thoughts Brewing, LLC", "telephone" : "703-296-9912", "url" : "thoughtsbrewing.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "abstract" : "Discover OpenAI's Tokenizer to better understand tokens in AI tools, their importance, and how they affect your usage and costs.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Damien Griffin" }, "dateModified" : "23 Apr 2026, 16:45", "datePublished" : "2026-04-23 16:45:00", "headline" : "AI Quick Tips 317: Try OpenAI’s Tokenizer if you are still confused about tokens", "image" : "https://24461783.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/24461783/AI%20Quick%20Tips-1.jpg", "inLanguage" : "en", "keywords" : "[AI Quick Tips, AI, ChatGPT, ChatGPT5]", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@type" : "WebPage" }, "name" : "AI Quick Tips 317: Try OpenAI’s Tokenizer if you are still confused about tokens", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://24461783.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/24461783/Thoughts%20Brewing%20Logo_Round_Final_Light%20Blue_Transparent%20Background-1.png" }, "name" : "Thoughts Brewing, LLC" }, "text" : "If you’ve been using AI tools for a little while, you’ve probably heard “tokens” at some point. Tokens are how the different AI models break up sets of text. Similar to how humans break up sets of text into words. Tokens matter because they are how most things are calculated when using text-based AI tools. For example, context windows, input, output, most things that you’ll be charged for, etc. If you pay a flat monthly fee or use a free version, you probably don’t care as much. Until you do. When you exceed a pre-defined token limit, things usually stop working or, at least, stop working well. Anyway, OpenAI has a tool that you can use to see how some of their models turn blocks of text into tokens. The tool is called a Tokenizer and theirs is found at - https://platform.openai.com/tokenizer If you’ve never heard of a token and don’t care then you probably didn’t read this far. If you did, in an effort to make your time worth it, here is a cat meme. Thank you for reading New Model. Same Confusion. If every update feels like “cool… but what do I actually do with this?”, you’re not the problem. Get clear on what matters, what to ignore, and how to use AI without chasing every shiny release. Use AI without the hype →", "url" : "https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/ai-quick-tips-317-try-openais-tokenizer-if-you-are-still-confused-about-tokens" } ```