Placeholder text that looks like text
Lorem ipsum is scrambled Latin derived from Cicero’s De finibus bonorum et malorum (45 BC), used since at least the 1960s (popularised by Letraset transfer sheets and later desktop publishing software) to fill layouts before the real copy exists. Because it looks like natural text but can’t be read, reviewers focus on the design rather than the words.
Options
- Paragraphs, sentences, words or list items: generate exactly the amount you need (three paragraphs for an article mock-up, eight words for a button label, five list items for a menu).
- Start with “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet…”: the traditional opening, or turn it off for fully random text.
- Wrap in HTML tags: paragraphs in
<p>, list items in<ul><li>. - Variation: a seed number. The same number always produces the same text, so screenshots and tests stay consistent; change it for different text.
When not to use it
Placeholder text hides real problems: headings that are too long in German, buttons that don’t fit “Add to basket” in French, articles that need images to break them up. Once the layout is settled, test it with realistic content, or at least realistic lengths.
Worked example
Here is what the Lorem Ipsum Generator returns for its built-in example. Settings used: Generate: Paragraphs; Start with “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet…”: on; Wrap in HTML tags: off. Click Try an example in the tool above to load it, then change it as you like.
Generate: paragraphs
How many: 2
Start with “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet…”: true
Variation: 7Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Architecto aliquip magna explicabo id veniam cillum consequat laborum duis. Ratione minim dolore magna consequat unde explicabo sed. Laudantium ab tempora laudantium quisquam fugit, amet ad esse occaecat.
Cillum cupidatat culpa numquam inventore illo reprehenderit, velit et et porro in. Reprehenderit consectetur ab quisquam unde fugit eaque quisquam ut est aperiam. Consequuntur voluptatem modi tempora unde odit lorem id in architecto unde dicta incidunt omnis. Rem beatae
…Questions
What does lorem ipsum mean?
It is a scrambled extract from Cicero’s De finibus (45 BC). It is deliberately not meaningful so readers focus on layout.
Can I get the same text every time?
Yes. Keep the same Variation number and settings and the output is identical.
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