Zalgo Text Generator
Generate creepy Zalgo-style glitched text.
Tool guide
About Zalgo Text Generator
The Zalgo Text Generator adds combining marks around characters to create a distorted or glitch-like appearance. It is a decorative effect for short samples, not a text encoding method, and the many added marks can make content difficult to read or render.
Zalgo Text Generator adds Unicode combining marks above, below, and through ordinary characters to make a glitch-like appearance. The marks are not separate visible letters in the usual sense; a font draws them in relation to nearby characters. The result can look very different across devices, and a high mark count can create overlap, broken line spacing, or difficult selection.
How to use this tool
- 1Enter a short phrase in the input box.
- 2Choose Change to generate the effect. The current tool uses a fixed number of randomly selected marks for each character; there is no intensity setting.
- 3Review the output and test it in the destination app. Keep a normal-text copy if readers need to understand or search the message.
Main features explained
01Marks above, below, and through text
For each non-line-break character, the generator appends five randomly chosen marks from an upper set, five from a lower set, and two from a middle set. That is twelve combining marks per JavaScript character position.
02Randomized output
The marks are selected with Math.random each time output is generated or edited, so repeating the same input can produce a different arrangement. The base letters stay in order.
03Line breaks are preserved
Newline and carriage-return characters are passed through without adding marks. Other input characters, including spaces and punctuation, receive the same mark-generation process as letters.
04Rendering depends on the app
The browser, operating system, and font decide how combining marks are positioned. A long stack can collide with nearby lines, overflow a text box, or make touch selection difficult.
How it works
For each non-newline character, the tool appends five combining marks from an upper set, five from a lower set, and two from a middle set. The selections are random each time output is generated. Rendering engines position the marks above, below, or through the base character, so the visible result depends on the font and app.
A quick example
A plain word becomes surrounded by stacks of marks above and below its letters. The output can vary each time, and the marks may overlap nearby lines or extend beyond a text box.
Worked examples
A plain word becomes decorated
Before
glitch
After
Each character plus 12 combining marks
The actual marks are random, so the output changes each time. Copy the generated output if you need to preserve that exact appearance.
Newlines remain separate
Before
top bottom
After
Decorated `top`, then a line break, then decorated `bottom`
Line break characters are kept without extra marks, but the marks on letters may still extend across the visual line spacing.
When it is useful
Make a short decorative title, a game effect, or a visual example of combining marks and Unicode rendering.
Short decorative headings
Generate a brief label for a fictional glitch effect or a themed mockup. Test the output in the exact font and component where it will appear.
Game or story props
Use a small amount of distorted text as a visual prop in a game, story, or Halloween design. Keep any actual instructions in a normal readable form.
Demonstrating Unicode marks
Show how combining characters can alter the visual position of letters without replacing the underlying base text. This can help explain why Unicode display varies.
Testing layout resilience
Use a very short sample to see how a text box responds to stacked marks. Do not use it as a substitute for testing realistic user input or as a way to attack another service.
Tips for a better result
- Use short samples and inspect them on a phone and desktop; dense mark stacks can affect performance and readability.
- Keep an ordinary text version nearby so people can read, search, copy, or use assistive technology with the same message.
- Avoid applying the effect to long paragraphs, forms, filenames, passwords, or instructions that someone needs to understand.
- After generating, avoid editing if you need a stable look; each input change can regenerate a random set of marks.
- Do not use distorted text to evade moderation, impersonate system errors, or make content difficult for another person to access.
Technical details and limits
Heavy combining marks can impair readability, accessibility, copying, and layout. Some apps limit or normalize them. Do not use the effect to impersonate errors, evade filters, or make important content hard to understand.
The result depends on the text and options you provide. Keep a copy of the original when formatting matters, and review the output before using it in a document, site, or application. This guide describes the tool's behavior; it does not replace proofreading or checking a platform's own requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the text look different in another app?
Fonts and rendering engines position combining characters differently.
Can I make long paragraphs of Zalgo text?
The tool accepts text, but dense marks can cause poor readability and display problems.
Does it encrypt text?
No. It adds visible Unicode marks and provides no privacy or security.
Why does the result change every time?
The generator chooses combining marks randomly for each character when it creates output.
How many marks are added?
It appends five upper, five lower, and two middle marks for each non-newline JavaScript character position.
Why does the text overlap or stretch outside its box?
Combining marks are positioned by the font and rendering engine. Many stacked marks can exceed normal line spacing.
Does it change the original letters?
It keeps each base character and appends marks after it; line breaks are passed through unchanged.
Will it look identical on every phone?
No. Font support, layout, and text rendering differ between apps and devices.
Is Zalgo text an encoding or secret message?
No. It is visible decoration made from Unicode combining marks and provides no security.