What is Lorem Ipsum? The History Behind the Famous Placeholder Text
Lorem ipsum has been the standard placeholder text for centuries. Discover its ancient origins and why designers still use it today.
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet…" If you've worked in design or development for more than a week, you've seen this text. It fills mockups, templates, and prototypes everywhere. But where does it come from?
Ancient Origins
Lorem ipsum is derived from "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" (On the Ends of Good and Evil), a work by the Roman philosopher Cicero written in 45 BC. The standard Lorem ipsum passage starting with "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet" is a scrambled and altered excerpt from this text.
It has been used in typesetting since the 1500s, when an unknown printer scrambled a passage of Cicero to use in a type specimen book.
Why Do Designers Use It?
- It's recognizable as placeholder — viewers know the content isn't final
- It avoids the distraction of readable text during visual reviews
- It has a natural-looking distribution of letters and words
- It prevents clients from focusing on copy instead of design
- It fills space naturally without repetition
Tip
In user testing with real participants, use real content instead of Lorem ipsum. Users engage more authentically with realistic text, giving you better feedback.
Modern Lorem Ipsum Generators
Today, Lorem ipsum generators let you specify how many words, sentences, or paragraphs you need. Many offer themed variants — pirate ipsum, corporate ipsum, developer ipsum — for when you want something more entertaining.
When NOT to Use Lorem Ipsum
- Final presentations to clients — use real copy
- User testing sessions — use realistic content
- Accessibility reviews — screen readers will read it literally
- When the text length significantly affects the design