Lorem Ipsum — What It Is and When to Use Placeholder Text

Lorem Ipsum is the standard placeholder text used in printing, graphic design, and web development. But where did it come from, and why is it still used today?

What is Lorem Ipsum?

Lorem Ipsum is scrambled Latin text derived from a work by Cicero in 45 BC called "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" (On the Ends of Good and Evil). It has been used as placeholder text since the 1500s.

Why Use Placeholder Text?

• Focus on design: Reviewers evaluate layout without being distracted by content
• Realistic appearance: Fills space with text-shaped blocks, unlike repeated "lorem"
• Industry standard: Clients and designers instantly recognize it as placeholder

When to Use Lorem Ipsum

• Website wireframes and mockups
• Print layout design
• Typography testing
• UI/UX prototyping
• Template previews

When NOT to Use Lorem Ipsum

• Final production: Replace with real content before launch
• Content-heavy sites: Use real content to test readability
• Accessibility testing: Screen readers will try to read Latin text

Alternatives to Lorem Ipsum

For more realistic testing, consider:

• Real content: Best for testing actual readability
• Relevant text: Use industry-specific placeholder text
• Hipster Ipsum: Fun, trendy placeholder text
• Cupcake Ipsum: Themed around baking

Customizing Placeholder Text

Our free Lorem Ipsum generator lets you generate exactly what you need:

• Choose paragraphs, sentences, or words
• Set the exact count you need
• Copy instantly with one click
• No signup required