diff --git a/src/SearchHelper.ts b/src/SearchHelper.ts
index 65d82ecc5..5766848e8 100644
--- a/src/SearchHelper.ts
+++ b/src/SearchHelper.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
+/**
+ * @license MIT
+ */
+
 import { ITerminal } from './Interfaces';
+import { translateBufferLineToString } from './utils/BufferLine';
 
 interface ISearchResult {
   term: string;
@@ -98,7 +103,7 @@ export class SearchHelper {
 
   private _findInLine(term: string, y: number): ISearchResult {
     const bufferLine = this._terminal.lines.get(y);
-    const stringLine = this._translateBufferLineToString(bufferLine, true);
+    const stringLine = translateBufferLineToString(bufferLine, true);
     const searchIndex = stringLine.indexOf(term);
     if (searchIndex >= 0) {
       return {
@@ -117,48 +122,4 @@ export class SearchHelper {
     this._terminal.scrollDisp(result.row - this._terminal.ydisp, false);
     return true;
   }
-
-  // TODO: Consolidate with SelectionManager function
-  private _translateBufferLineToString(line: any, trimRight: boolean, startCol: number = 0, endCol: number = null): string {
-    // TODO: This function should live in a buffer or buffer line class
-
-    // TODO: Move these constants elsewhere, they belong in a buffer or buffer
-    //       data/line class.
-    const LINE_DATA_CHAR_INDEX = 1;
-    const LINE_DATA_WIDTH_INDEX = 2;
-    // Get full line
-    let lineString = '';
-    let widthAdjustedStartCol = startCol;
-    let widthAdjustedEndCol = endCol;
-    for (let i = 0; i < line.length; i++) {
-      const char = line[i];
-      lineString += char[LINE_DATA_CHAR_INDEX];
-      // Adjust start and end cols for wide characters if they affect their
-      // column indexes
-      if (char[LINE_DATA_WIDTH_INDEX] === 0) {
-        if (startCol >= i) {
-          widthAdjustedStartCol--;
-        }
-        if (endCol >= i) {
-          widthAdjustedEndCol--;
-        }
-      }
-    }
-
-    // Calculate the final end col by trimming whitespace on the right of the
-    // line if needed.
-    let finalEndCol = widthAdjustedEndCol || line.length;
-    if (trimRight) {
-      const rightWhitespaceIndex = lineString.search(/\s+$/);
-      if (rightWhitespaceIndex !== -1) {
-        finalEndCol = Math.min(finalEndCol, rightWhitespaceIndex);
-      }
-      // Return the empty string if only trimmed whitespace is selected
-      if (finalEndCol <= widthAdjustedStartCol) {
-        return '';
-      }
-    }
-
-    return lineString.substring(widthAdjustedStartCol, finalEndCol);
-  }
 }
diff --git a/src/SelectionManager.ts b/src/SelectionManager.ts
index 14a0f5a34..e2ba3756e 100644
--- a/src/SelectionManager.ts
+++ b/src/SelectionManager.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { EventEmitter } from './EventEmitter';
 import * as Mouse from './utils/Mouse';
 import { ITerminal } from './Interfaces';
 import { SelectionModel } from './SelectionModel';
+import { translateBufferLineToString } from './utils/BufferLine';
 
 /**
  * The number of pixels the mouse needs to be above or below the viewport in
@@ -179,16 +180,16 @@ export class SelectionManager extends EventEmitter {
     // Get first row
     const startRowEndCol = start[1] === end[1] ? end[0] : null;
     let result: string[] = [];
-    result.push(this._translateBufferLineToString(this._buffer.get(start[1]), true, start[0], startRowEndCol));
+    result.push(translateBufferLineToString(this._buffer.get(start[1]), true, start[0], startRowEndCol));
 
     // Get middle rows
     for (let i = start[1] + 1; i <= end[1] - 1; i++) {
-      result.push(this._translateBufferLineToString(this._buffer.get(i), true));
+      result.push(translateBufferLineToString(this._buffer.get(i), true));
     }
 
     // Get final row
     if (start[1] !== end[1]) {
-      result.push(this._translateBufferLineToString(this._buffer.get(end[1]), true, 0, end[0]));
+      result.push(translateBufferLineToString(this._buffer.get(end[1]), true, 0, end[0]));
     }
 
     // Format string by replacing non-breaking space chars with regular spaces
@@ -209,55 +210,6 @@ export class SelectionManager extends EventEmitter {
     this.refresh();
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Translates a buffer line to a string, with optional start and end columns.
-   * Wide characters will count as two columns in the resulting string. This
-   * function is useful for getting the actual text underneath the raw selection
-   * position.
-   * @param line The line being translated.
-   * @param trimRight Whether to trim whitespace to the right.
-   * @param startCol The column to start at.
-   * @param endCol The column to end at.
-   */
-  private _translateBufferLineToString(line: any, trimRight: boolean, startCol: number = 0, endCol: number = null): string {
-    // TODO: This function should live in a buffer or buffer line class
-
-    // Get full line
-    let lineString = '';
-    let widthAdjustedStartCol = startCol;
-    let widthAdjustedEndCol = endCol;
-    for (let i = 0; i < line.length; i++) {
-      const char = line[i];
-      lineString += char[LINE_DATA_CHAR_INDEX];
-      // Adjust start and end cols for wide characters if they affect their
-      // column indexes
-      if (char[LINE_DATA_WIDTH_INDEX] === 0) {
-        if (startCol >= i) {
-          widthAdjustedStartCol--;
-        }
-        if (endCol >= i) {
-          widthAdjustedEndCol--;
-        }
-      }
-    }
-
-    // Calculate the final end col by trimming whitespace on the right of the
-    // line if needed.
-    let finalEndCol = widthAdjustedEndCol || line.length;
-    if (trimRight) {
-      const rightWhitespaceIndex = lineString.search(/\s+$/);
-      if (rightWhitespaceIndex !== -1) {
-        finalEndCol = Math.min(finalEndCol, rightWhitespaceIndex);
-      }
-      // Return the empty string if only trimmed whitespace is selected
-      if (finalEndCol <= widthAdjustedStartCol) {
-        return '';
-      }
-    }
-
-    return lineString.substring(widthAdjustedStartCol, finalEndCol);
-  }
-
   /**
    * Queues a refresh, redrawing the selection on the next opportunity.
    */
@@ -570,7 +522,7 @@ export class SelectionManager extends EventEmitter {
    */
   protected _selectWordAt(coords: [number, number]): void {
     const bufferLine = this._buffer.get(coords[1]);
-    const line = this._translateBufferLineToString(bufferLine, false);
+    const line = translateBufferLineToString(bufferLine, false);
 
     // Get actual index, taking into consideration wide characters
     let endIndex = this._convertViewportColToCharacterIndex(bufferLine, coords);
diff --git a/src/utils/BufferLine.ts b/src/utils/BufferLine.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3dc6525ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/BufferLine.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/**
+ * @license MIT
+ */
+
+// TODO: This module should be merged into a buffer or buffer line class
+
+const LINE_DATA_CHAR_INDEX = 1;
+const LINE_DATA_WIDTH_INDEX = 2;
+
+/**
+ * Translates a buffer line to a string, with optional start and end columns.
+ * Wide characters will count as two columns in the resulting string. This
+ * function is useful for getting the actual text underneath the raw selection
+ * position.
+ * @param line The line being translated.
+ * @param trimRight Whether to trim whitespace to the right.
+ * @param startCol The column to start at.
+ * @param endCol The column to end at.
+ */
+export function translateBufferLineToString(line: any, trimRight: boolean, startCol: number = 0, endCol: number = null): string {
+  // Get full line
+  let lineString = '';
+  let widthAdjustedStartCol = startCol;
+  let widthAdjustedEndCol = endCol;
+  for (let i = 0; i < line.length; i++) {
+    const char = line[i];
+    lineString += char[LINE_DATA_CHAR_INDEX];
+    // Adjust start and end cols for wide characters if they affect their
+    // column indexes
+    if (char[LINE_DATA_WIDTH_INDEX] === 0) {
+      if (startCol >= i) {
+        widthAdjustedStartCol--;
+      }
+      if (endCol >= i) {
+        widthAdjustedEndCol--;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Calculate the final end col by trimming whitespace on the right of the
+  // line if needed.
+  let finalEndCol = widthAdjustedEndCol || line.length;
+  if (trimRight) {
+    const rightWhitespaceIndex = lineString.search(/\s+$/);
+    if (rightWhitespaceIndex !== -1) {
+      finalEndCol = Math.min(finalEndCol, rightWhitespaceIndex);
+    }
+    // Return the empty string if only trimmed whitespace is selected
+    if (finalEndCol <= widthAdjustedStartCol) {
+      return '';
+    }
+  }
+
+  return lineString.substring(widthAdjustedStartCol, finalEndCol);
+}