What Is Lorem Ipsum?
Lorem Ipsum is dummy text used in the printing and typesetting industry since the 1500s. It originates from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC.
The text has been the industry standard placeholder since an unknown printer scrambled a galley of type to make a specimen book. It has survived five centuries and the leap into electronic typesetting.
Why Use Lorem Ipsum?
- Focus on design — Placeholder text lets designers focus on layout and typography without being distracted by content.
- Realistic appearance — Unlike "Content here, content here", Lorem Ipsum has a natural distribution of letters, making it look like readable English.
- Industry standard — Used universally in web design, graphic design, print layouts, and software mockups.
- No bias — Neutral text prevents stakeholders from focusing on draft content instead of design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lorem Ipsum real Latin?
It is derived from Latin but is not proper Latin. The original text has been altered over the centuries — words were removed, added, and randomized. A Latin scholar would find it mostly nonsensical.