Zalgo Text Generator
Create glitched, corrupted text with our free zalgo text generator. Add creepy diacritical marks above, below, and through your text for horror-themed content, gaming, or unique social media posts.
Input Text
Zalgo Text Result
Quick Presets
What is Zalgo Text?
Zalgo text (also known as 'corrupted text' or 'glitch text') is created by combining regular characters with multiple combining diacritical marks. These marks, which normally modify letters in various languages (like accents, cedillas, or umlauts), are stacked excessively to create a distorted, glitchy appearance. The result is text that appears to be 'corrupted' or 'glitched,' with markings extending far above and below the original text.
The term 'Zalgo' comes from a 2004 internet meme associated with horror and corruption, where text appears to be consumed by chaos. Today, zalgo text is used creatively for various purposes beyond its original creepy connotations.
Uses for Zalgo Text
- Social Media: Create eye-catching, unique posts that stand out from normal text
- Horror Content: Add an unsettling, glitched appearance to text for horror-themed content
- Gaming: Create corrupted usernames or chat messages in games
- Creative Projects: Use in digital art, stories, or videos with glitch aesthetics
- Memes: Create distorted text for internet humor and memes
- Attention-Grabbing: Make important text stand out in communications
Features:
- Customizable Intensity: Control how much corruption appears above, through, and below your text
- Quick Presets: Use our preset buttons for popular zalgo effects
- Precision Control: Fine-tune exactly how your zalgo text will appear
- Space Preservation: Option to keep spaces visible or corrupt them too
- Random Application: Apply zalgo effects randomly for a more natural corrupted look
- Instant Preview: See your zalgo text as you adjust settings
- Copy and Download: Easily save your corrupted text for use anywhere
Tips for Using Zalgo Text
- Moderation is Key: While extremely corrupted text looks impressive, it may be difficult to read and some platforms may cut it off. Medium settings often work best for practical use.
- Platform Compatibility: Not all websites and apps display zalgo text correctly. Some may strip the diacritical marks or limit their display.
- Accessibility Considerations: Zalgo text can be difficult or impossible for screen readers to interpret correctly. Consider including alternative text when needed.
- Experiment with Intensity: Try different intensity levels for different effects - subtle corruption can sometimes be more effective than maximum distortion.
- Combine with Other Styles: For maximum impact, try combining zalgo effects with other text styles like all caps, spaced-out letters, or reversed text.
How Zalgo Text Works
Unicode, the computing industry standard for text, includes thousands of 'combining characters' designed to modify the appearance of the character that precedes them. In normal usage, these are used for accents and other diacritical marks in various languages. Zalgo text exploits this system by stacking multiple combining characters on top of each other - something that was never intended in normal typography.
Our zalgo generator allows you to control how many combining characters are added above, through, and below each character in your text. By adjusting these settings, you can create effects ranging from subtle distortion to extreme corruption that extends far beyond the original text boundaries.
Note on Using Zalgo Text
While zalgo text can be fun and creative, be mindful of where you use it. Some platforms may have character limits or may strip formatting, and excessive zalgo text can cause display issues on certain websites or applications. Additionally, it may be difficult for people using screen readers to understand zalgo text, so consider accessibility when using it in public forums.