Lorem Ipsum is the most-used placeholder text in the world. Designers, developers, and writers use it to fill space in layouts so the focus stays on design, not the content. This guide explains its origins and how to use it.
1. Where did Lorem Ipsum come from?
Lorem Ipsum has been used as placeholder text since the 1500s. It's derived from a passage in Cicero's "De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" written in 45 BC. The randomized words don't carry meaning, so they don't distract from the layout being designed.
2. Why use placeholder text?
- Focus on design — the reader's eye isn't drawn to read filler text
- Realistic length — real body text varies in length; Lorem Ipsum mimics this
- Language neutral — it doesn't favor any language or topic
3. Modern alternatives
Some designers prefer alternatives like Bacon Ipsum (meat-themed), Hipster Ipsum (artisan-themed), or Corporate Ipsum (business jargon). For tech mocks, Cat Ipsum or random English sentences work too. Traditional Lorem Ipsum remains the default for most use cases.
4. How to generate Lorem Ipsum
Open the Lorem Ipsum Generator, choose how many paragraphs, sentences, or words you need, and click Generate. The tool produces classic Lorem Ipsum instantly.