diff --git a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index 6ae7e1f..3111a16 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 mod ff;
 mod media;
 mod models;
+pub mod strings;
 
 use ff::extract_streams;
 use media::{detect_media_type, is_media_file};
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/strings.rs b/src-tauri/src/strings.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be2a437
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src-tauri/src/strings.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+/// Transforms a filename to fit within a character limit while preserving the most useful context
+///
+/// This function prioritizes preserving:
+/// 1. File extension (if reasonable length ≤ 5 chars including dot)
+/// 2. Beginning of filename (for identification)
+/// 3. End of filename before extension (often contains important info like numbers)
+///
+/// # Arguments
+/// * `filename` - The filename to transform
+/// * `limit` - Maximum number of characters
+///
+/// # Returns
+/// * Transformed filename that fits within the limit, using ellipsis (...) to indicate truncation
+///
+/// # Examples
+/// ```
+/// use byte_me_lib::strings::transform_filename;
+///
+/// // Short filenames remain unchanged
+/// assert_eq!(transform_filename("test.mp4", 20), "test.mp4");
+///
+/// // Long filename with extension - preserve extension and context
+/// assert_eq!(transform_filename("very_long_video_file_name.mp4", 18), "ver...ile_name.mp4");
+///
+/// // Numeric sequences - preserve start and end numbers
+/// assert_eq!(transform_filename("43509374693.TS.mp4", 15), "435...93.TS.mp4");
+///
+/// // No extension - preserve start and end of name
+/// assert_eq!(transform_filename("very_long_document_name", 15), "ver...ment_name");
+///
+/// // Long extension treated as part of name
+/// assert_eq!(transform_filename("file.verylongextension", 15), "fil...extension");
+/// ```
+pub fn transform_filename(filename: &str, limit: usize) -> String {
+    // Handle edge cases
+    if limit == 0 || filename.is_empty() {
+        return String::new();
+    }
+
+    if filename.len() <= limit {
+        return filename.to_string();
+    }
+
+    // Find potential extension (last dot, not at start or end)
+    let extension_start = filename
+        .rfind('.')
+        .filter(|&pos| pos > 0 && pos < filename.len() - 1);
+
+    let (name_part, extension_part) = if let Some(ext_pos) = extension_start {
+        let ext = &filename[ext_pos..];
+        // Only treat as extension if it's reasonable length (≤ 5 chars including dot)
+        // and doesn't contain additional dots (compound extensions like .TS.mp4)
+        if ext.len() <= 5 && !ext[1..].contains('.') {
+            (&filename[..ext_pos], ext)
+        } else {
+            (filename, "")
+        }
+    } else {
+        (filename, "")
+    };
+
+    // If even just the extension is too long, truncate the whole thing
+    if extension_part.len() >= limit {
+        return truncate_string(filename, limit);
+    }
+
+    // Calculate space available for the name part
+    let name_limit = limit - extension_part.len();
+
+    // If name fits in available space, no truncation needed
+    if name_part.len() <= name_limit {
+        return filename.to_string();
+    }
+
+    // Need to truncate the name part
+    let truncated_name = truncate_string(name_part, name_limit);
+    format!("{}{}", truncated_name, extension_part)
+}
+
+/// Helper function to truncate a string with ellipsis, preserving start and end context
+pub fn truncate_string(s: &str, limit: usize) -> String {
+    if s.len() <= limit {
+        return s.to_string();
+    }
+
+    // For very small limits, just truncate without ellipsis
+    if limit < 5 {
+        return s.chars().take(limit).collect();
+    }
+
+    // For limits 5 and above, use start + "..." + end pattern
+    // Strategy: Use 3 chars for ellipsis, split remaining between start and end
+    // But ensure we get meaningful chunks from both ends
+
+    let available_for_content = limit - 3; // Reserve 3 for "..."
+
+    // Determine start and end characters based on available space
+    let (start_chars, end_chars) = if available_for_content <= 4 {
+        // Very limited space: minimal start, rest for end
+        (1, available_for_content - 1)
+    } else if available_for_content <= 6 {
+        // Medium space: balanced approach
+        let start = available_for_content / 2;
+        (start, available_for_content - start)
+    } else {
+        // Plenty of space: cap start at 3, use more for end to preserve context
+        let start = 3;
+        (start, available_for_content - start)
+    };
+
+    let start: String = s.chars().take(start_chars).collect();
+    let end: String = s
+        .chars()
+        .rev()
+        .take(end_chars)
+        .collect::<String>()
+        .chars()
+        .rev()
+        .collect();
+
+    format!("{}...{}", start, end)
+}
diff --git a/src-tauri/tests/strings.rs b/src-tauri/tests/strings.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f61c5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src-tauri/tests/strings.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+use byte_me_lib::strings::{transform_filename, truncate_string};
+
+#[test]
+fn test_transform_filename() {
+    // Test cases focusing on practical, readable outputs
+
+    // 1. Short filenames should remain unchanged
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("test.mp4", 20), "test.mp4");
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("short.txt", 15), "short.txt");
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("a.b", 10), "a.b");
+
+    // 2. No extension cases - preserve meaningful start and end
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("short_name", 15), "short_name");
+    assert_eq!(
+        transform_filename("very_long_document_name", 15),
+        "ver...ment_name"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        transform_filename("medium_length_name", 13),
+        "med...th_name"
+    );
+
+    // 3. Normal extension cases (preserving extension)
+    assert_eq!(
+        transform_filename("very_long_video_file_name.mp4", 18),
+        "ver...ile_name.mp4"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        transform_filename("document_with_long_name.pdf", 15),
+        "doc..._name.pdf"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        transform_filename("image_file_name.jpeg", 15),
+        "ima...name.jpeg"
+    );
+
+    // 4. Numeric sequences (like user's example) - preserve start and end numbers
+    assert_eq!(
+        transform_filename("43509374693.TS.mp4", 15),
+        "435...93.TS.mp4"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        transform_filename("20231201_video.mp4", 15),
+        "202...video.mp4"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("file_v2.1.3.tar", 12), "fi...1.3.tar");
+
+    // 5. Long extensions (treated as part of filename)
+    assert_eq!(
+        transform_filename("file.verylongextension", 15),
+        "fil...extension"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        transform_filename("document.backup_old", 15),
+        "doc...ackup_old"
+    );
+
+    // 6. Edge cases
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("", 10), "");
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("a", 0), "");
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("test", 4), "test");
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("test", 3), "tes");
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("ab", 2), "ab");
+
+    // 7. Very short limits - graceful degradation
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("test.mp4", 8), "test.mp4");
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("verylongname", 8), "ve...ame");
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("test.mp4", 7), "tes.mp4");
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("hello.txt", 9), "hello.txt");
+
+    // 8. Extension edge cases
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("file.", 10), "file.");
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename(".hidden", 10), ".hidden");
+    assert_eq!(transform_filename("test.a", 10), "test.a");
+
+    // 9. Real-world examples
+    assert_eq!(
+        transform_filename("IMG_20231201_143022.jpg", 15),
+        "IMG...43022.jpg"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        transform_filename("meeting_recording_final_v2.mp4", 20),
+        "mee...g_final_v2.mp4"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        transform_filename("my document (copy).docx", 15),
+        "my ...opy).docx"
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_truncate_string() {
+    // Test the helper function directly
+    assert_eq!(truncate_string("hello", 10), "hello");
+    assert_eq!(truncate_string("hello", 5), "hello");
+    assert_eq!(truncate_string("hello_world", 8), "he...rld");
+    assert_eq!(truncate_string("test", 4), "test");
+    assert_eq!(truncate_string("test", 3), "tes");
+    assert_eq!(truncate_string("ab", 2), "ab");
+    assert_eq!(truncate_string("a", 1), "a");
+    assert_eq!(truncate_string("hello", 1), "h");
+    assert_eq!(truncate_string("hello", 0), "");
+    assert_eq!(truncate_string("very_long_name", 10), "ver...name");
+    assert_eq!(truncate_string("document_name", 9), "doc...ame");
+}