History
About Lorem Ipsum
Lorem Ipsum is placeholder text derived from classical Latin literature. It helps designers evaluate typography, spacing, and rhythm without being distracted by readable meaning.
Where it comes from
The familiar passage begins with “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet…”. It comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum (The Extremes of Good and Evil), written in 45 BC. The text was later adapted into meaningless Latin-ish filler for printing and digital design.
A short timeline
- ~45 BC
Cicero writes De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, the source passage.
- 1500s
A printer scrambles type to make a type specimen book.
- 1980s
Desktop publishing tools popularize “Lorem ipsum” as default filler.
- Today
Placeholder text keeps focus on layout, not copy, across the web.
Why designers still use it
- Neutral content avoids bias toward a particular language or brand voice.
- Realistic word lengths and punctuation stress-test line breaks and rag.
- Familiarity helps stakeholders critique layout instead of copy.