Zalgo text refers to text that has been intentionally corrupted using a combination of special Unicode symbols and diacritical marks such as accents, slashes, dots, arrows, rings, and more. By strategically adding these extra markings in a messy manner, normal text takes on a creepy, glitched or distorted aesthetic. This is commonly referred to as being "zalgoified".
The name "zalgo" likely started on discussion forums as people played with text corruption tools that randomly added the weird glitchy symbols. Over time it became associated with any type of distorted, chaotic text, almost like it was depicting an otherworldly being or force named "zalgo" breaking through into our reality.
When used for creepypasta stories, cryptic messages or pranks, zalgo text has an unsettling vibe to it that intrigues and disturbs people simultaneously. It grabs attention with its bizarre appearance and fuels speculation about hidden meanings. Even in random nonsensical usages, zalgo text has a weird, almost supernatural aura.
Zalgo text converters are online text transformation tools that make it easy to generate zalgo text. The user simply enters or pastes normal text into an input box. When they hit convert, the tool does the work of adding all the extra special characters and markings to corrupt and distort that text into chaotic zalgo form.
These converters allow configurable levels of text corruption. With lower settings, only some scattered accent marks, carets, and slashes get added sporadically. Higher corruption settings add dense clusters of random diacritics and symbols, sometimes to the point letters are barely recognizable. Most converters have a slider or dropdown menu to control the intensity.
The distorted text output can then be copied out of the generator and pasted anywhere the user wants - social media posts, email, documents, chat messages, and so on. Different online zalgo converters have slight variations in characters used and randomization algorithms, but all follow the same basic principles outlined above.
The zalgo text generator tool available at FontForg offers a simple and user-friendly interface for creating zalgo text. To use it:
Type or paste any text you want into the empty input box on the page. This can phrases, song lyrics, creepypasta passages, or anything else.
Using the slider below the input box, choose your desired corruption intensity level ranging from 1 to 15. Lower numbers add fewer glitch markings while higher numbers make the text extremely chaotic.
Hit the "Convert to Zalgo!" button and watch your text transform before your eyes! The output box above will now show a dynamically generated zalgo version of your original input text.
Select and copy the zalgo text in the output box. Now you can paste your unique creation anywhere - social posts, messaging apps, documents, etc.
Optionally go back and reconvert the same text while adjusting the corruption slider for different effects. Or enter entirely new text samples to convert.
The FontForg zalgo generator is fun and easy-to-use. Within seconds you can create weird, creepy and completely illegible zalgo texts to use however you wish!
The history of corrupting text with random diacritical marks traces back many years to early online forums and message boards. Specific references to "zalgo" emerged around 2008 within the CreepyPasta internet horror genre, where users experimented with text distortion tools to add atmosphere to scary stories.
Early online zalgo text converters were basic web apps that automated the process of inserting random special characters each time text was entered. As the trend grew, more advanced generators added options to control and fine-tune the output chaos levels.
Zalgo text went mainstream through meme culture and youtubers using it for clickbait thumbnails. It became a trendy way for brands to make social posts seem edgy around Halloween. The unsettling visual impact grabbed attention despite zalgo text rarely translating into coherent information.
Now zalgo text converters are easy to find online with GeneratorLand, LingoJam, and TextInflator among the many options. While no longer a fresh trend, zalgo text remains a nostalgic internet relic that still sees usage today in niche circles. It retains an alluring, cryptic quality that sparked curiosity in the first place.
There are several popular use cases and examples where zalgo text tends to get utilized, including:
In most cases zalgo text is used for aesthetic purposes and emotive impact rather than communicating literal information. The visual distortion carries the main effects whether or not the original meaning is discernable.
Zalgo text refers to text that has been corrupted by random insertion of special Unicode symbols and diacritics to make it appear chaotic and glitched. Online text converters streamline zalgo text generation by automating this process based on user inputs. The FontForg Zalgo Generator covered here offers an easy way to create these distorted texts to copy and paste anywhere desired.
While zalgo text may seem like a strange internet anomaly, it has established itself through evocative visual qualities and an aura of cryptic unease. Simple text distortion touches something innate in the human psyche. That intangible allure continues driving zalgo text usage even today across various online spheres.