FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about dummytxt: what it does, how it works, and how to use it in real development workflows.
- What is dummytxt?
- dummytxt is a free lorem ipsum generator that produces fully structured placeholder HTML, not just plain paragraphs. Configure headings, lists, images, inline elements and more, then copy the output straight into your project.
- Why not just use a regular lorem ipsum generator?
- Most generators give you walls of uniform text. When you're building a real UI you need realistic structure: headings to check typography hierarchy, lists to test spacing, images to verify layout, tables to confirm overflow behaviour. dummytxt generates all of that in one go, configured to match whatever content your editors will actually produce.
- Does it require an account?
- No. Everything runs in the browser. No sign-up, no rate limits, no data sent to a server. Open the page, generate, copy, close the tab.
- Can I use the output in commercial projects?
- Yes. The generated content is placeholder lorem ipsum text, so use it freely in any project, commercial or otherwise.
- How is dummytxt useful for CMS development?
- CMS editors don't write in plain paragraphs. A typical post might have three heading levels, a table, two images with captions, and a numbered list. If your theme or renderer was only tested against plain text, it will break when real editorial content arrives. dummytxt lets you configure exactly the element mix you need and test your layout before launch.
- Can I use dummytxt to test a WordPress theme?
- Yes. Generate HTML output with headings, lists, inline formatting, and images, then paste it into the WordPress Classic Editor or a Custom HTML block. This immediately reveals layout issues that plain lorem ipsum text never would, like uneven heading margins, oversized images without max-width, and list items inheriting incorrect spacing.
- Does it work with headless CMS platforms like Contentful or Sanity?
- Absolutely. Copy the HTML output and use it as a fixture to test your rich-text renderer. Both Contentful's rich text and Sanity's Portable Text ultimately serialise to HTML, so the dummytxt output gives you a comprehensive reference to validate your renderer against, including edge cases like back-to-back lists, nested inline elements, and figures adjacent to tables.
- What is the difference between HTML and plain text output?
- HTML output gives you raw, well-formed markup with all the configured elements: headings, lists, images, tables, code blocks. Plain text output strips all tags and returns only the readable text, suitable for environments that only accept unformatted content or for seeding search indices and analytics dashboards.
- How do I use dummytxt in Storybook?
- Generate a comprehensive block of output (multiple paragraphs, several heading levels, at least one list and one image) and save it as a fixture file in your project. Import that fixture HTML string in your Storybook stories for Article, Card, or any layout component that renders editorial content. This gives you stable, version-controlled placeholder content that reveals visual regressions when styles change.
- Does dummytxt only generate HTML?
- No. HTML is the original generator, but dummytxt is now a small suite: a Markdown generator for READMEs and docs sites, a JSON generator for fake API and database fixture data, and a placeholder image generator. All of them are listed on the tools page and run entirely in your browser like the HTML generator does.
- Can I generate fake JSON test data?
- Yes. The JSON generator lets you pick a record type (user, product, or order), toggle which fields to include, choose a record count from 1 to 50, and copy pretty-printed JSON for mocking an API response or seeding a local database.
- Can I generate placeholder images without relying on a third-party host?
- Yes. The placeholder image generator outputs a self-contained data:image/svg+xml URI, so there's no external service like placeholder.com to go down, rate-limit you, or block CORS. Pick a size, color, and label, then copy it as a raw data URI, an <img> tag, or a CSS background-image snippet.
- Is there an API?
- Not a REST API. All generation, including the JSON and image tools, is client-side JavaScript running in your browser. If programmatic generation is something you need, it's on the roadmap, so check back.
Still have questions? Read the full guide or jump straight into the generator.