If you've ever seen a website mockup, you've almost certainly encountered "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet…" — blocks of Latin text filling where real content will go. But where does it come from, and why do designers keep using it?
The Origin of Lorem Ipsum
Lorem ipsum is derived from "De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum," a philosophical work by Cicero written in 45 BC. The passage has been scrambled and altered, making it meaningless — but it reads as natural text with realistic word lengths. Typesetters first used it in the 1500s, and Adobe PageMaker popularized it in the 1980s. It's been the standard placeholder text ever since.
Why Designers Use It
- Removes distraction from review — stakeholders focus on layout, not words
- Prevents premature content decisions — keeps designs flexible
- Fills space realistically — mimics natural word length distribution
When NOT to Use It
- Accessibility testing — use real text to test screen reader behavior
- Form labels and error messages — need real text from day one
- Before developer handoff — replace all placeholders before development begins
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