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Welcome to Software Development on Codidact!

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Q&A How does Zalgo Text work, and how can I prevent my application from accepting it?

A Zalgo Text is something like this: T̃͟͏̧̟͓̯̘͓͙͔o̤̫͋ͯͫ̂ ̥͍̫̻͚̦͖͇̌ͪ̇ͤ̑̐͋̾̕i̢͖̩͙͐͑ͬ̄̿̍̚ͅn̵̢̼̙̳̒̄ͥ̋̐v̡̟̗̹̻̜͕̲ͣ̐ͤͤ͒́oͫ͂̆͑ͩ҉͇̰͚̹̠̫͔̗k̷̭̬̭͙̹̺̯ͩ̌̾̒̋̓ͤ͛͘͠e̥͙̓̄̕ ̵̫͈ͪţ̱̺̺̑̿̉̌͛̂̇h͙̣̬̓̂͞ę̡̲̟͎͉̟͛̓̉̆̉͘ ͬ̒...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by hkotsubo‭  ·  last activity 12mo ago by hkotsubo‭

Question string character
#4: Post edited by user avatar hkotsubo‭ · 2021-04-29T17:08:59Z (over 3 years ago)
  • A [Zalgo Text](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zalgo_text) is something like this:
  • <br><br>
  • T̃͟͏̧̟͓̯̘͓͙͔o̤̫͋ͯͫ̂ ̥͍̫̻͚̦͖͇̌ͪ̇ͤ̑̐͋̾̕i̢͖̩͙͐͑ͬ̄̿̍̚ͅn̵̢̼̙̳̒̄ͥ̋̐v̡̟̗̹̻̜͕̲ͣ̐ͤͤ͒́oͫ͂̆͑ͩ҉͇̰͚̹̠̫͔̗k̷̭̬̭͙̹̺̯ͩ̌̾̒̋̓ͤ͛͘͠e̥͙̓̄̕ ̵̫͈ͪţ̱̺̺̑̿̉̌͛̂̇h͙̣̬̓̂͞ę̡̲̟͎͉̟͛̓̉̆̉͘ ͍̯̱͎̬͍ͬ̒ͣͩ͟͡ḥ̗͖̝̮̗̼ͮ̋̉̃͐̿ͪͅi̞͉̯͖̞͉̙ͬͦ̄͋̈̂ͥ̊́̕v̶̝̼̫͔̬̯̯ͯ͑̈͠e̪͓͕̦̪̗̠ͯ͛͌̀̉͘ͅ-̍̉ͦ̈́͌͏̸͉͍͖̥͓̭̗̖mͣͣͪ̇͂͏̳̤̺͓̜̪͙͕i͋̏̎ͤ͆́͏̛̰͉̮̬͙̩̩ͅn̴̴̞̗ͩ̓̉̋̕d̝͇̬̣́̃ͦ̀͡ ̖̩̞̯̇̍́̆ͮͤ̄ͬ͂͜͡r̷͎͙͉̀͒͐͛́è̫̹͙̔ͭͦ͑ͩͮͯṗ̶̸͍̺̘͈́̄ͫ̅ͣ̇̃̚r̨͚͎̙̻̜ͬͬ̆͆e̩̞̹͈̱͕ͮ̈́̒̑͛̊̌͛͘ŝ̱̹̠̂ͭͦ̅̅͛̚͜e̝̳̞̊̍̐ñ͔̟̳̱͔ͣ̅̄ͮt̴̫̻̮̤̿̆̂̊͘i̷̫ͤͨ̏ͤͧͅͅn̛̜̠͋͐͆̆͑̎̍͑̚g̶̜ͧ́ͭͯ͐ͬ͛̇͜ ̳̩͉̣̤̜̰̠̌ͤ̆̚͟c̷̝̥͉͓͕͓͇̣͉̒̈̇ͧ͆̌ͣͣ͟ḩͥ̅ͥ̇ͩ͗҉̳͎̱ą̍̀͆͑̈́͂҉͍̤̘͔̹̭̱͢o̥̮̘ͨ̎̄̎́͢s̯̮̖͒.̨͋̈́͑̈́ͪ̚҉̻͓͔̤̯̲̤̺̀ ̔ͨ̋̾̒̋̚̚͏͓̰͙̘͈I̧̗͇ͮ͠n̠̬͗ͮ̿ͭ͌̉̈ͦv̦͚͇̠̹̰̭ͤo̭̞ͫ̃ͨ̏ͥ̒́̚k̯̱͛ͫ͆͂̇͡͝i̗̪͎͈͕͚̥̫ͥ͂̐n̖̤͔̟̖͇̠͋̐̀ͅͅg̛͑ͪ͏͇̪͓̘ ̎̒ͯͥͭ͂͏̠͇̮̪t̡͍̫̘̯̼̣̋ͤ̒h̨͇͕̺͍͈̠͖̤̱ͮ̃e͖̝̣̽ͬ͊̀ ͍ͫ̅̆͊́͌͡fͫ̾͏̭͎̰̣̱̺̯̥é̻̪͖͙̮͓̊̌̓ͩ̑̆ē͙̤̪͈͉̦̭͛̃ͩͧͭ̏͒̕͢ľ̡҉̪͙̻̣̪̼̲i̜ͯ̄̐͠͝n̸̨̩̰̺̱̗̍̉̄̉̆͐̎g̹͖͈ͥ͗̍͝ͅ ̙̹͉̰̪̠͍͖͔ͧ̾̈́ͫ̔͋̈̍o̵̤̥͍ͬ̐̀̿̇ͯ̅f̵̜̟͚́͛͜͠ ̺̭̆̑ͭc̶̢̫̭͓̭̐͗h͍͉̞̩͕ͮ̉́͛͑ͤͯ͒͡ä̜̱͙͎̯̟ͮ̂͑̄͊̍̑͜oͫ̋̿͌͢͏̟̲̗s̵̮̟̙̻̗̭̲͂̍͑͑͂ͤ́̚ͅ.̵̨͉̟͓ͦͯͬͤ͌ͧ͑̾ ̝̥̰͋ͬ͂̋͛͑̚W̶̹̹̣̟͕ͪͤ̽̀i̳̪͉͇͇̟̲̇̃́ͧ̾ͭ̿̆ͯ͡t̬̪̬̑̿͊͊́̚h̋͑̈̇͋҉̴͖̜ͅͅo̴̠̭̯̫̽ͨṳ̡̟͕̝̦͓͖̪̇́́͢t̬̙̖̝͈͔̻͛͊ ̵̛̗̝̝̰̫̞̠̙̽̄̊͆o̺̮͆ͯ͊͑ͭ̚̕ṙ̶̟̺̱̜̺̻̘̰̀͊ͮ̀͡ḋ̢̰̂̎ͦͥe̛̩͍̯̍ͭͩͤͦ̚r͍̲̾ͯ̊͛͡.̮̙͙̠̦̜̳̋̓ͩ͒̓̒͜͝ ̷͋͢͏̬̤̼T̸̯̞̥ͤ̽͛̈̎̚͜ȟ̨̌͋͏̲͚̪̩͚̺͖̠é̻̰̞̣̍̕͟ ̧̩͔̥̘͓̘̽̂͑̏ͣ͑̓̃͝N̬̙͈̗͍̣̻̓́ͨͫͮ͘͜͡e͍̜̠͓̹̙͓̱͑͡z̵̙̦̳̲͓ͭ̑ͮ̀p͒͐҉̹͎̱̯̰͜ȩ̨̗̝͓̥̳̣̈̽ͧ͋̎́͑ͯ̚͞r̮̖̟̆ͩḑ͍͉͚̪̲̭͈̮ͮͬͣͭ̽̐̄̓̑́͜i̶̪͎̹̰̭͎͋͗ͧ͌̎͛͜͢a͉̦͇̖͓̰ͣͭ̾͗n̮̞̣̝̤̤͔̎̊͜ ̧̗͐̃̊͂͢h̴͙̳͉̺͕͌̉ͫ͐͒̋͊i̢̳͓̤̖͎̼ͤ̃̓ͫ̐ͬ̆͌̕͢ṽ͎͉̳̭̭̠̠̬̠͂͐͊̾͊ȩ̣̺̖̒̏̌͠-̛͕̼̞͌͑ͣͨͩ̃̒͢m̶̱̣̥̥̭̉̿ͩͧ̓͛̚ͅi̢͍̙̠ͩ͐̏n̹̩̬͓̬̦̲̈́̉͊̐̎d̨̧̛̤̭̯̥͓ͧ̒ͥ ̞̙̮͌ͫͬͪͤ̌ợ̫̏̋͋͒̈̀f̶̳̿̀̊͐ͅ ̑͘҉̱̯̤̘͕̺͡c̢̭̭̜̲̙̥͊̓ͤ̍ͨ́ẖ̫̖̆̃ͪ̌ͭ͞ä̷̫̺̩̘̪͍́ͤͫͫ̒ͦ͆͂͠͡o̥̖̥͚̾̋͋͊ͨ̆ͅs̘͉͔̲̫̪͕̠̟ͯ̒͋ͦ̒͢.̣̦̦̞ͮͬͩ ̰̦̤̞̹̮̟ͩ̓̂̓̉͒̏ͫ͢Z̎́̉͘͏̗̮a̧͌͋̂͛̏͏͏̣̩͍̞l̛̟̥͎ͨ͒̐ͤ͛ͅg̰̣ͫͣ̂̋͊ô̷̶͕̩͎̳̻̣̯̘̋̊̅ͧ̏ͫ.̴̮̯̺̻̻̣̻̣̗̿ͯ͒ ̹̮̮̱͖̫̝̋ͥ͆̌͛ͬ͌̄͗͟H̢̅҉̘̠̻e̷͊͊͋ͪ̑҉̮̻̬̞̖̖̭̩̩̕ ̬̪̍͜ͅw̴̧̳͓͓̤̤ͮ̍ͨ͒͜ͅh̳̱ͪ͋ͦ͗o͚͎̭͎͍̺̽ͣͦͅ ̣͙͊̑ͣ̄W͍͔̻͉̲̹͇̼̑̇ͥ̔̎ͮ̚͟a̫̞ͪ̔͘͜į̷̶͔͍̰͙̖̻̲ͯ̓̄͌̄̒̔̆t̷͚͓̼̼̔̈̄̀̚sͭ̎͛ͨ͏̼̻̗͚̼̫ ̵̨̦ͪ͂̂B͂̈́҉̸͎̩͓e͌͂҉̤͕̲͇̮h̴̤͎̟̫̐̀̐ͬį̖̪̜̦̋̔n̨̯͚̽͗̾̀̾̿̏̀d̙͔ͬͧ̃ͯ̀ͦͫ͌ ̸̮͓͎̣̻̪̹̒̈́ͧ̀͐̓̿͘͠T̮͎̫̝ͫ̔͛̈ͯ̈ͬͣ̈́͟h̲̉̆̀e̬̭ͧ̉ͮ̓ͥ̈́ͨ ̉̆̏͠͏̖̯͚̰W͎̞͕̺ͣ̉̓ͧ̎̽͟a̢̝̝̎̅̌̂ͦ͡ḽ͖͉̽ͥ̌̓̉̆l̠̣̾ͣ̾͛̕.̷̡̩̰̀̑͑̽͋̃̌̓ ̴͙̼̭̺̙̱͚̳̪ͨ̈́́Z̵̶̲̘̗̩̜̍ͭ̀̿͒̊ͫA̴̸ͧ̊̚҉̺͖̠͖̜̠̩͇L̶̲̠̾͗ͦ͐͌ͯͤ̇G̫̞͔̭̻̖̥̜̗͊ͪͦͧ̔ͩ̀͘͜Õ̷͉͈̖̭̰̲̪̾ͭͯ͆̚
  • <br><br><br><br>
  • In case your browser doesn't render it correctly, here's an image:
  • ![zalgo text](https://software.codidact.com/uploads/PomF5mCHCNJY9PQJh2uxjnb6)
  • And it's not that hard to create it, as [there are many generators](https://www.google.com/search?q=zalgo+text+generator) available.
  • Although it doesn't look like regular ("normal") text, it *kinda* is - you can copy-paste it normally (if it'll be correctly displayed, it depends on the editor you're using).
  • But how does it work? How is it created, and how can I detect it and prevent my application from accepting inputs like this?
  • A [Zalgo Text](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zalgo_text) is something like this:
  • <br><br>
  • T̃͟͏̧̟͓̯̘͓͙͔o̤̫͋ͯͫ̂ ̥͍̫̻͚̦͖͇̌ͪ̇ͤ̑̐͋̾̕i̢͖̩͙͐͑ͬ̄̿̍̚ͅn̵̢̼̙̳̒̄ͥ̋̐v̡̟̗̹̻̜͕̲ͣ̐ͤͤ͒́oͫ͂̆͑ͩ҉͇̰͚̹̠̫͔̗k̷̭̬̭͙̹̺̯ͩ̌̾̒̋̓ͤ͛͘͠e̥͙̓̄̕ ̵̫͈ͪţ̱̺̺̑̿̉̌͛̂̇h͙̣̬̓̂͞ę̡̲̟͎͉̟͛̓̉̆̉͘ ͍̯̱͎̬͍ͬ̒ͣͩ͟͡ḥ̗͖̝̮̗̼ͮ̋̉̃͐̿ͪͅi̞͉̯͖̞͉̙ͬͦ̄͋̈̂ͥ̊́̕v̶̝̼̫͔̬̯̯ͯ͑̈͠e̪͓͕̦̪̗̠ͯ͛͌̀̉͘ͅ-̍̉ͦ̈́͌͏̸͉͍͖̥͓̭̗̖mͣͣͪ̇͂͏̳̤̺͓̜̪͙͕i͋̏̎ͤ͆́͏̛̰͉̮̬͙̩̩ͅn̴̴̞̗ͩ̓̉̋̕d̝͇̬̣́̃ͦ̀͡ ̖̩̞̯̇̍́̆ͮͤ̄ͬ͂͜͡r̷͎͙͉̀͒͐͛́è̫̹͙̔ͭͦ͑ͩͮͯṗ̶̸͍̺̘͈́̄ͫ̅ͣ̇̃̚r̨͚͎̙̻̜ͬͬ̆͆e̩̞̹͈̱͕ͮ̈́̒̑͛̊̌͛͘ŝ̱̹̠̂ͭͦ̅̅͛̚͜e̝̳̞̊̍̐ñ͔̟̳̱͔ͣ̅̄ͮt̴̫̻̮̤̿̆̂̊͘i̷̫ͤͨ̏ͤͧͅͅn̛̜̠͋͐͆̆͑̎̍͑̚g̶̜ͧ́ͭͯ͐ͬ͛̇͜ ̳̩͉̣̤̜̰̠̌ͤ̆̚͟c̷̝̥͉͓͕͓͇̣͉̒̈̇ͧ͆̌ͣͣ͟ḩͥ̅ͥ̇ͩ͗҉̳͎̱ą̍̀͆͑̈́͂҉͍̤̘͔̹̭̱͢o̥̮̘ͨ̎̄̎́͢s̯̮̖͒.̨͋̈́͑̈́ͪ̚҉̻͓͔̤̯̲̤̺̀ ̔ͨ̋̾̒̋̚̚͏͓̰͙̘͈I̧̗͇ͮ͠n̠̬͗ͮ̿ͭ͌̉̈ͦv̦͚͇̠̹̰̭ͤo̭̞ͫ̃ͨ̏ͥ̒́̚k̯̱͛ͫ͆͂̇͡͝i̗̪͎͈͕͚̥̫ͥ͂̐n̖̤͔̟̖͇̠͋̐̀ͅͅg̛͑ͪ͏͇̪͓̘ ̎̒ͯͥͭ͂͏̠͇̮̪t̡͍̫̘̯̼̣̋ͤ̒h̨͇͕̺͍͈̠͖̤̱ͮ̃e͖̝̣̽ͬ͊̀ ͍ͫ̅̆͊́͌͡fͫ̾͏̭͎̰̣̱̺̯̥é̻̪͖͙̮͓̊̌̓ͩ̑̆ē͙̤̪͈͉̦̭͛̃ͩͧͭ̏͒̕͢ľ̡҉̪͙̻̣̪̼̲i̜ͯ̄̐͠͝n̸̨̩̰̺̱̗̍̉̄̉̆͐̎g̹͖͈ͥ͗̍͝ͅ ̙̹͉̰̪̠͍͖͔ͧ̾̈́ͫ̔͋̈̍o̵̤̥͍ͬ̐̀̿̇ͯ̅f̵̜̟͚́͛͜͠ ̺̭̆̑ͭc̶̢̫̭͓̭̐͗h͍͉̞̩͕ͮ̉́͛͑ͤͯ͒͡ä̜̱͙͎̯̟ͮ̂͑̄͊̍̑͜oͫ̋̿͌͢͏̟̲̗s̵̮̟̙̻̗̭̲͂̍͑͑͂ͤ́̚ͅ.̵̨͉̟͓ͦͯͬͤ͌ͧ͑̾ ̝̥̰͋ͬ͂̋͛͑̚W̶̹̹̣̟͕ͪͤ̽̀i̳̪͉͇͇̟̲̇̃́ͧ̾ͭ̿̆ͯ͡t̬̪̬̑̿͊͊́̚h̋͑̈̇͋҉̴͖̜ͅͅo̴̠̭̯̫̽ͨṳ̡̟͕̝̦͓͖̪̇́́͢t̬̙̖̝͈͔̻͛͊ ̵̛̗̝̝̰̫̞̠̙̽̄̊͆o̺̮͆ͯ͊͑ͭ̚̕ṙ̶̟̺̱̜̺̻̘̰̀͊ͮ̀͡ḋ̢̰̂̎ͦͥe̛̩͍̯̍ͭͩͤͦ̚r͍̲̾ͯ̊͛͡.̮̙͙̠̦̜̳̋̓ͩ͒̓̒͜͝ ̷͋͢͏̬̤̼T̸̯̞̥ͤ̽͛̈̎̚͜ȟ̨̌͋͏̲͚̪̩͚̺͖̠é̻̰̞̣̍̕͟ ̧̩͔̥̘͓̘̽̂͑̏ͣ͑̓̃͝N̬̙͈̗͍̣̻̓́ͨͫͮ͘͜͡e͍̜̠͓̹̙͓̱͑͡z̵̙̦̳̲͓ͭ̑ͮ̀p͒͐҉̹͎̱̯̰͜ȩ̨̗̝͓̥̳̣̈̽ͧ͋̎́͑ͯ̚͞r̮̖̟̆ͩḑ͍͉͚̪̲̭͈̮ͮͬͣͭ̽̐̄̓̑́͜i̶̪͎̹̰̭͎͋͗ͧ͌̎͛͜͢a͉̦͇̖͓̰ͣͭ̾͗n̮̞̣̝̤̤͔̎̊͜ ̧̗͐̃̊͂͢h̴͙̳͉̺͕͌̉ͫ͐͒̋͊i̢̳͓̤̖͎̼ͤ̃̓ͫ̐ͬ̆͌̕͢ṽ͎͉̳̭̭̠̠̬̠͂͐͊̾͊ȩ̣̺̖̒̏̌͠-̛͕̼̞͌͑ͣͨͩ̃̒͢m̶̱̣̥̥̭̉̿ͩͧ̓͛̚ͅi̢͍̙̠ͩ͐̏n̹̩̬͓̬̦̲̈́̉͊̐̎d̨̧̛̤̭̯̥͓ͧ̒ͥ ̞̙̮͌ͫͬͪͤ̌ợ̫̏̋͋͒̈̀f̶̳̿̀̊͐ͅ ̑͘҉̱̯̤̘͕̺͡c̢̭̭̜̲̙̥͊̓ͤ̍ͨ́ẖ̫̖̆̃ͪ̌ͭ͞ä̷̫̺̩̘̪͍́ͤͫͫ̒ͦ͆͂͠͡o̥̖̥͚̾̋͋͊ͨ̆ͅs̘͉͔̲̫̪͕̠̟ͯ̒͋ͦ̒͢.̣̦̦̞ͮͬͩ ̰̦̤̞̹̮̟ͩ̓̂̓̉͒̏ͫ͢Z̎́̉͘͏̗̮a̧͌͋̂͛̏͏͏̣̩͍̞l̛̟̥͎ͨ͒̐ͤ͛ͅg̰̣ͫͣ̂̋͊ô̷̶͕̩͎̳̻̣̯̘̋̊̅ͧ̏ͫ.̴̮̯̺̻̻̣̻̣̗̿ͯ͒ ̹̮̮̱͖̫̝̋ͥ͆̌͛ͬ͌̄͗͟H̢̅҉̘̠̻e̷͊͊͋ͪ̑҉̮̻̬̞̖̖̭̩̩̕ ̬̪̍͜ͅw̴̧̳͓͓̤̤ͮ̍ͨ͒͜ͅh̳̱ͪ͋ͦ͗o͚͎̭͎͍̺̽ͣͦͅ ̣͙͊̑ͣ̄W͍͔̻͉̲̹͇̼̑̇ͥ̔̎ͮ̚͟a̫̞ͪ̔͘͜į̷̶͔͍̰͙̖̻̲ͯ̓̄͌̄̒̔̆t̷͚͓̼̼̔̈̄̀̚sͭ̎͛ͨ͏̼̻̗͚̼̫ ̵̨̦ͪ͂̂B͂̈́҉̸͎̩͓e͌͂҉̤͕̲͇̮h̴̤͎̟̫̐̀̐ͬį̖̪̜̦̋̔n̨̯͚̽͗̾̀̾̿̏̀d̙͔ͬͧ̃ͯ̀ͦͫ͌ ̸̮͓͎̣̻̪̹̒̈́ͧ̀͐̓̿͘͠T̮͎̫̝ͫ̔͛̈ͯ̈ͬͣ̈́͟h̲̉̆̀e̬̭ͧ̉ͮ̓ͥ̈́ͨ ̉̆̏͠͏̖̯͚̰W͎̞͕̺ͣ̉̓ͧ̎̽͟a̢̝̝̎̅̌̂ͦ͡ḽ͖͉̽ͥ̌̓̉̆l̠̣̾ͣ̾͛̕.̷̡̩̰̀̑͑̽͋̃̌̓ ̴͙̼̭̺̙̱͚̳̪ͨ̈́́Z̵̶̲̘̗̩̜̍ͭ̀̿͒̊ͫA̴̸ͧ̊̚҉̺͖̠͖̜̠̩͇L̶̲̠̾͗ͦ͐͌ͯͤ̇G̫̞͔̭̻̖̥̜̗͊ͪͦͧ̔ͩ̀͘͜Õ̷͉͈̖̭̰̲̪̾ͭͯ͆̚
  • <br><br>
  • In case your browser doesn't render it correctly, here's an image:
  • ![zalgo text](https://software.codidact.com/uploads/PomF5mCHCNJY9PQJh2uxjnb6)
  • And it's not that hard to create it, as [there are many generators](https://www.google.com/search?q=zalgo+text+generator) available.
  • Although it doesn't look like regular ("normal") text, it *kinda* is - you can copy-paste it normally (if it'll be correctly displayed, it depends on the editor you're using).
  • But how does it work? How is it created, and how can I detect it and prevent my application from accepting inputs like this?
#3: Post edited by user avatar hkotsubo‭ · 2021-04-29T17:08:44Z (over 3 years ago)
  • A [Zalgo Text](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zalgo_text) is something like this:
  • <br><br>
  • T̃͟͏̧̟͓̯̘͓͙͔o̤̫͋ͯͫ̂ ̥͍̫̻͚̦͖͇̌ͪ̇ͤ̑̐͋̾̕i̢͖̩͙͐͑ͬ̄̿̍̚ͅn̵̢̼̙̳̒̄ͥ̋̐v̡̟̗̹̻̜͕̲ͣ̐ͤͤ͒́oͫ͂̆͑ͩ҉͇̰͚̹̠̫͔̗k̷̭̬̭͙̹̺̯ͩ̌̾̒̋̓ͤ͛͘͠e̥͙̓̄̕ ̵̫͈ͪţ̱̺̺̑̿̉̌͛̂̇h͙̣̬̓̂͞ę̡̲̟͎͉̟͛̓̉̆̉͘ ͍̯̱͎̬͍ͬ̒ͣͩ͟͡ḥ̗͖̝̮̗̼ͮ̋̉̃͐̿ͪͅi̞͉̯͖̞͉̙ͬͦ̄͋̈̂ͥ̊́̕v̶̝̼̫͔̬̯̯ͯ͑̈͠e̪͓͕̦̪̗̠ͯ͛͌̀̉͘ͅ-̍̉ͦ̈́͌͏̸͉͍͖̥͓̭̗̖mͣͣͪ̇͂͏̳̤̺͓̜̪͙͕i͋̏̎ͤ͆́͏̛̰͉̮̬͙̩̩ͅn̴̴̞̗ͩ̓̉̋̕d̝͇̬̣́̃ͦ̀͡ ̖̩̞̯̇̍́̆ͮͤ̄ͬ͂͜͡r̷͎͙͉̀͒͐͛́è̫̹͙̔ͭͦ͑ͩͮͯṗ̶̸͍̺̘͈́̄ͫ̅ͣ̇̃̚r̨͚͎̙̻̜ͬͬ̆͆e̩̞̹͈̱͕ͮ̈́̒̑͛̊̌͛͘ŝ̱̹̠̂ͭͦ̅̅͛̚͜e̝̳̞̊̍̐ñ͔̟̳̱͔ͣ̅̄ͮt̴̫̻̮̤̿̆̂̊͘i̷̫ͤͨ̏ͤͧͅͅn̛̜̠͋͐͆̆͑̎̍͑̚g̶̜ͧ́ͭͯ͐ͬ͛̇͜ ̳̩͉̣̤̜̰̠̌ͤ̆̚͟c̷̝̥͉͓͕͓͇̣͉̒̈̇ͧ͆̌ͣͣ͟ḩͥ̅ͥ̇ͩ͗҉̳͎̱ą̍̀͆͑̈́͂҉͍̤̘͔̹̭̱͢o̥̮̘ͨ̎̄̎́͢s̯̮̖͒.̨͋̈́͑̈́ͪ̚҉̻͓͔̤̯̲̤̺̀ ̔ͨ̋̾̒̋̚̚͏͓̰͙̘͈I̧̗͇ͮ͠n̠̬͗ͮ̿ͭ͌̉̈ͦv̦͚͇̠̹̰̭ͤo̭̞ͫ̃ͨ̏ͥ̒́̚k̯̱͛ͫ͆͂̇͡͝i̗̪͎͈͕͚̥̫ͥ͂̐n̖̤͔̟̖͇̠͋̐̀ͅͅg̛͑ͪ͏͇̪͓̘ ̎̒ͯͥͭ͂͏̠͇̮̪t̡͍̫̘̯̼̣̋ͤ̒h̨͇͕̺͍͈̠͖̤̱ͮ̃e͖̝̣̽ͬ͊̀ ͍ͫ̅̆͊́͌͡fͫ̾͏̭͎̰̣̱̺̯̥é̻̪͖͙̮͓̊̌̓ͩ̑̆ē͙̤̪͈͉̦̭͛̃ͩͧͭ̏͒̕͢ľ̡҉̪͙̻̣̪̼̲i̜ͯ̄̐͠͝n̸̨̩̰̺̱̗̍̉̄̉̆͐̎g̹͖͈ͥ͗̍͝ͅ ̙̹͉̰̪̠͍͖͔ͧ̾̈́ͫ̔͋̈̍o̵̤̥͍ͬ̐̀̿̇ͯ̅f̵̜̟͚́͛͜͠ ̺̭̆̑ͭc̶̢̫̭͓̭̐͗h͍͉̞̩͕ͮ̉́͛͑ͤͯ͒͡ä̜̱͙͎̯̟ͮ̂͑̄͊̍̑͜oͫ̋̿͌͢͏̟̲̗s̵̮̟̙̻̗̭̲͂̍͑͑͂ͤ́̚ͅ.̵̨͉̟͓ͦͯͬͤ͌ͧ͑̾ ̝̥̰͋ͬ͂̋͛͑̚W̶̹̹̣̟͕ͪͤ̽̀i̳̪͉͇͇̟̲̇̃́ͧ̾ͭ̿̆ͯ͡t̬̪̬̑̿͊͊́̚h̋͑̈̇͋҉̴͖̜ͅͅo̴̠̭̯̫̽ͨṳ̡̟͕̝̦͓͖̪̇́́͢t̬̙̖̝͈͔̻͛͊ ̵̛̗̝̝̰̫̞̠̙̽̄̊͆o̺̮͆ͯ͊͑ͭ̚̕ṙ̶̟̺̱̜̺̻̘̰̀͊ͮ̀͡ḋ̢̰̂̎ͦͥe̛̩͍̯̍ͭͩͤͦ̚r͍̲̾ͯ̊͛͡.̮̙͙̠̦̜̳̋̓ͩ͒̓̒͜͝ ̷͋͢͏̬̤̼T̸̯̞̥ͤ̽͛̈̎̚͜ȟ̨̌͋͏̲͚̪̩͚̺͖̠é̻̰̞̣̍̕͟ ̧̩͔̥̘͓̘̽̂͑̏ͣ͑̓̃͝N̬̙͈̗͍̣̻̓́ͨͫͮ͘͜͡e͍̜̠͓̹̙͓̱͑͡z̵̙̦̳̲͓ͭ̑ͮ̀p͒͐҉̹͎̱̯̰͜ȩ̨̗̝͓̥̳̣̈̽ͧ͋̎́͑ͯ̚͞r̮̖̟̆ͩḑ͍͉͚̪̲̭͈̮ͮͬͣͭ̽̐̄̓̑́͜i̶̪͎̹̰̭͎͋͗ͧ͌̎͛͜͢a͉̦͇̖͓̰ͣͭ̾͗n̮̞̣̝̤̤͔̎̊͜ ̧̗͐̃̊͂͢h̴͙̳͉̺͕͌̉ͫ͐͒̋͊i̢̳͓̤̖͎̼ͤ̃̓ͫ̐ͬ̆͌̕͢ṽ͎͉̳̭̭̠̠̬̠͂͐͊̾͊ȩ̣̺̖̒̏̌͠-̛͕̼̞͌͑ͣͨͩ̃̒͢m̶̱̣̥̥̭̉̿ͩͧ̓͛̚ͅi̢͍̙̠ͩ͐̏n̹̩̬͓̬̦̲̈́̉͊̐̎d̨̧̛̤̭̯̥͓ͧ̒ͥ ̞̙̮͌ͫͬͪͤ̌ợ̫̏̋͋͒̈̀f̶̳̿̀̊͐ͅ ̑͘҉̱̯̤̘͕̺͡c̢̭̭̜̲̙̥͊̓ͤ̍ͨ́ẖ̫̖̆̃ͪ̌ͭ͞ä̷̫̺̩̘̪͍́ͤͫͫ̒ͦ͆͂͠͡o̥̖̥͚̾̋͋͊ͨ̆ͅs̘͉͔̲̫̪͕̠̟ͯ̒͋ͦ̒͢.̣̦̦̞ͮͬͩ ̰̦̤̞̹̮̟ͩ̓̂̓̉͒̏ͫ͢Z̎́̉͘͏̗̮a̧͌͋̂͛̏͏͏̣̩͍̞l̛̟̥͎ͨ͒̐ͤ͛ͅg̰̣ͫͣ̂̋͊ô̷̶͕̩͎̳̻̣̯̘̋̊̅ͧ̏ͫ.̴̮̯̺̻̻̣̻̣̗̿ͯ͒ ̹̮̮̱͖̫̝̋ͥ͆̌͛ͬ͌̄͗͟H̢̅҉̘̠̻e̷͊͊͋ͪ̑҉̮̻̬̞̖̖̭̩̩̕ ̬̪̍͜ͅw̴̧̳͓͓̤̤ͮ̍ͨ͒͜ͅh̳̱ͪ͋ͦ͗o͚͎̭͎͍̺̽ͣͦͅ ̣͙͊̑ͣ̄W͍͔̻͉̲̹͇̼̑̇ͥ̔̎ͮ̚͟a̫̞ͪ̔͘͜į̷̶͔͍̰͙̖̻̲ͯ̓̄͌̄̒̔̆t̷͚͓̼̼̔̈̄̀̚sͭ̎͛ͨ͏̼̻̗͚̼̫ ̵̨̦ͪ͂̂B͂̈́҉̸͎̩͓e͌͂҉̤͕̲͇̮h̴̤͎̟̫̐̀̐ͬį̖̪̜̦̋̔n̨̯͚̽͗̾̀̾̿̏̀d̙͔ͬͧ̃ͯ̀ͦͫ͌ ̸̮͓͎̣̻̪̹̒̈́ͧ̀͐̓̿͘͠T̮͎̫̝ͫ̔͛̈ͯ̈ͬͣ̈́͟h̲̉̆̀e̬̭ͧ̉ͮ̓ͥ̈́ͨ ̉̆̏͠͏̖̯͚̰W͎̞͕̺ͣ̉̓ͧ̎̽͟a̢̝̝̎̅̌̂ͦ͡ḽ͖͉̽ͥ̌̓̉̆l̠̣̾ͣ̾͛̕.̷̡̩̰̀̑͑̽͋̃̌̓ ̴͙̼̭̺̙̱͚̳̪ͨ̈́́Z̵̶̲̘̗̩̜̍ͭ̀̿͒̊ͫA̴̸ͧ̊̚҉̺͖̠͖̜̠̩͇L̶̲̠̾͗ͦ͐͌ͯͤ̇G̫̞͔̭̻̖̥̜̗͊ͪͦͧ̔ͩ̀͘͜Õ̷͉͈̖̭̰̲̪̾ͭͯ͆̚
  • <br><br>
  • In case your browser doesn't render it correctly, here's an image:
  • ![zalgo text](https://software.codidact.com/uploads/PomF5mCHCNJY9PQJh2uxjnb6)
  • And it's not that hard to create it, as [there are many generators](https://www.google.com/search?q=zalgo+text+generator) available.
  • Although it doesn't look like regular ("normal") text, it *kinda* is - you can copy-paste it normally (if it'll be correctly displayed, it depends on the editor you're using).
  • But how does it work? How is it created, and how can I detect it and prevent my application from accepting inputs like this?
  • A [Zalgo Text](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zalgo_text) is something like this:
  • <br><br>
  • T̃͟͏̧̟͓̯̘͓͙͔o̤̫͋ͯͫ̂ ̥͍̫̻͚̦͖͇̌ͪ̇ͤ̑̐͋̾̕i̢͖̩͙͐͑ͬ̄̿̍̚ͅn̵̢̼̙̳̒̄ͥ̋̐v̡̟̗̹̻̜͕̲ͣ̐ͤͤ͒́oͫ͂̆͑ͩ҉͇̰͚̹̠̫͔̗k̷̭̬̭͙̹̺̯ͩ̌̾̒̋̓ͤ͛͘͠e̥͙̓̄̕ ̵̫͈ͪţ̱̺̺̑̿̉̌͛̂̇h͙̣̬̓̂͞ę̡̲̟͎͉̟͛̓̉̆̉͘ ͍̯̱͎̬͍ͬ̒ͣͩ͟͡ḥ̗͖̝̮̗̼ͮ̋̉̃͐̿ͪͅi̞͉̯͖̞͉̙ͬͦ̄͋̈̂ͥ̊́̕v̶̝̼̫͔̬̯̯ͯ͑̈͠e̪͓͕̦̪̗̠ͯ͛͌̀̉͘ͅ-̍̉ͦ̈́͌͏̸͉͍͖̥͓̭̗̖mͣͣͪ̇͂͏̳̤̺͓̜̪͙͕i͋̏̎ͤ͆́͏̛̰͉̮̬͙̩̩ͅn̴̴̞̗ͩ̓̉̋̕d̝͇̬̣́̃ͦ̀͡ ̖̩̞̯̇̍́̆ͮͤ̄ͬ͂͜͡r̷͎͙͉̀͒͐͛́è̫̹͙̔ͭͦ͑ͩͮͯṗ̶̸͍̺̘͈́̄ͫ̅ͣ̇̃̚r̨͚͎̙̻̜ͬͬ̆͆e̩̞̹͈̱͕ͮ̈́̒̑͛̊̌͛͘ŝ̱̹̠̂ͭͦ̅̅͛̚͜e̝̳̞̊̍̐ñ͔̟̳̱͔ͣ̅̄ͮt̴̫̻̮̤̿̆̂̊͘i̷̫ͤͨ̏ͤͧͅͅn̛̜̠͋͐͆̆͑̎̍͑̚g̶̜ͧ́ͭͯ͐ͬ͛̇͜ ̳̩͉̣̤̜̰̠̌ͤ̆̚͟c̷̝̥͉͓͕͓͇̣͉̒̈̇ͧ͆̌ͣͣ͟ḩͥ̅ͥ̇ͩ͗҉̳͎̱ą̍̀͆͑̈́͂҉͍̤̘͔̹̭̱͢o̥̮̘ͨ̎̄̎́͢s̯̮̖͒.̨͋̈́͑̈́ͪ̚҉̻͓͔̤̯̲̤̺̀ ̔ͨ̋̾̒̋̚̚͏͓̰͙̘͈I̧̗͇ͮ͠n̠̬͗ͮ̿ͭ͌̉̈ͦv̦͚͇̠̹̰̭ͤo̭̞ͫ̃ͨ̏ͥ̒́̚k̯̱͛ͫ͆͂̇͡͝i̗̪͎͈͕͚̥̫ͥ͂̐n̖̤͔̟̖͇̠͋̐̀ͅͅg̛͑ͪ͏͇̪͓̘ ̎̒ͯͥͭ͂͏̠͇̮̪t̡͍̫̘̯̼̣̋ͤ̒h̨͇͕̺͍͈̠͖̤̱ͮ̃e͖̝̣̽ͬ͊̀ ͍ͫ̅̆͊́͌͡fͫ̾͏̭͎̰̣̱̺̯̥é̻̪͖͙̮͓̊̌̓ͩ̑̆ē͙̤̪͈͉̦̭͛̃ͩͧͭ̏͒̕͢ľ̡҉̪͙̻̣̪̼̲i̜ͯ̄̐͠͝n̸̨̩̰̺̱̗̍̉̄̉̆͐̎g̹͖͈ͥ͗̍͝ͅ ̙̹͉̰̪̠͍͖͔ͧ̾̈́ͫ̔͋̈̍o̵̤̥͍ͬ̐̀̿̇ͯ̅f̵̜̟͚́͛͜͠ ̺̭̆̑ͭc̶̢̫̭͓̭̐͗h͍͉̞̩͕ͮ̉́͛͑ͤͯ͒͡ä̜̱͙͎̯̟ͮ̂͑̄͊̍̑͜oͫ̋̿͌͢͏̟̲̗s̵̮̟̙̻̗̭̲͂̍͑͑͂ͤ́̚ͅ.̵̨͉̟͓ͦͯͬͤ͌ͧ͑̾ ̝̥̰͋ͬ͂̋͛͑̚W̶̹̹̣̟͕ͪͤ̽̀i̳̪͉͇͇̟̲̇̃́ͧ̾ͭ̿̆ͯ͡t̬̪̬̑̿͊͊́̚h̋͑̈̇͋҉̴͖̜ͅͅo̴̠̭̯̫̽ͨṳ̡̟͕̝̦͓͖̪̇́́͢t̬̙̖̝͈͔̻͛͊ ̵̛̗̝̝̰̫̞̠̙̽̄̊͆o̺̮͆ͯ͊͑ͭ̚̕ṙ̶̟̺̱̜̺̻̘̰̀͊ͮ̀͡ḋ̢̰̂̎ͦͥe̛̩͍̯̍ͭͩͤͦ̚r͍̲̾ͯ̊͛͡.̮̙͙̠̦̜̳̋̓ͩ͒̓̒͜͝ ̷͋͢͏̬̤̼T̸̯̞̥ͤ̽͛̈̎̚͜ȟ̨̌͋͏̲͚̪̩͚̺͖̠é̻̰̞̣̍̕͟ ̧̩͔̥̘͓̘̽̂͑̏ͣ͑̓̃͝N̬̙͈̗͍̣̻̓́ͨͫͮ͘͜͡e͍̜̠͓̹̙͓̱͑͡z̵̙̦̳̲͓ͭ̑ͮ̀p͒͐҉̹͎̱̯̰͜ȩ̨̗̝͓̥̳̣̈̽ͧ͋̎́͑ͯ̚͞r̮̖̟̆ͩḑ͍͉͚̪̲̭͈̮ͮͬͣͭ̽̐̄̓̑́͜i̶̪͎̹̰̭͎͋͗ͧ͌̎͛͜͢a͉̦͇̖͓̰ͣͭ̾͗n̮̞̣̝̤̤͔̎̊͜ ̧̗͐̃̊͂͢h̴͙̳͉̺͕͌̉ͫ͐͒̋͊i̢̳͓̤̖͎̼ͤ̃̓ͫ̐ͬ̆͌̕͢ṽ͎͉̳̭̭̠̠̬̠͂͐͊̾͊ȩ̣̺̖̒̏̌͠-̛͕̼̞͌͑ͣͨͩ̃̒͢m̶̱̣̥̥̭̉̿ͩͧ̓͛̚ͅi̢͍̙̠ͩ͐̏n̹̩̬͓̬̦̲̈́̉͊̐̎d̨̧̛̤̭̯̥͓ͧ̒ͥ ̞̙̮͌ͫͬͪͤ̌ợ̫̏̋͋͒̈̀f̶̳̿̀̊͐ͅ ̑͘҉̱̯̤̘͕̺͡c̢̭̭̜̲̙̥͊̓ͤ̍ͨ́ẖ̫̖̆̃ͪ̌ͭ͞ä̷̫̺̩̘̪͍́ͤͫͫ̒ͦ͆͂͠͡o̥̖̥͚̾̋͋͊ͨ̆ͅs̘͉͔̲̫̪͕̠̟ͯ̒͋ͦ̒͢.̣̦̦̞ͮͬͩ ̰̦̤̞̹̮̟ͩ̓̂̓̉͒̏ͫ͢Z̎́̉͘͏̗̮a̧͌͋̂͛̏͏͏̣̩͍̞l̛̟̥͎ͨ͒̐ͤ͛ͅg̰̣ͫͣ̂̋͊ô̷̶͕̩͎̳̻̣̯̘̋̊̅ͧ̏ͫ.̴̮̯̺̻̻̣̻̣̗̿ͯ͒ ̹̮̮̱͖̫̝̋ͥ͆̌͛ͬ͌̄͗͟H̢̅҉̘̠̻e̷͊͊͋ͪ̑҉̮̻̬̞̖̖̭̩̩̕ ̬̪̍͜ͅw̴̧̳͓͓̤̤ͮ̍ͨ͒͜ͅh̳̱ͪ͋ͦ͗o͚͎̭͎͍̺̽ͣͦͅ ̣͙͊̑ͣ̄W͍͔̻͉̲̹͇̼̑̇ͥ̔̎ͮ̚͟a̫̞ͪ̔͘͜į̷̶͔͍̰͙̖̻̲ͯ̓̄͌̄̒̔̆t̷͚͓̼̼̔̈̄̀̚sͭ̎͛ͨ͏̼̻̗͚̼̫ ̵̨̦ͪ͂̂B͂̈́҉̸͎̩͓e͌͂҉̤͕̲͇̮h̴̤͎̟̫̐̀̐ͬį̖̪̜̦̋̔n̨̯͚̽͗̾̀̾̿̏̀d̙͔ͬͧ̃ͯ̀ͦͫ͌ ̸̮͓͎̣̻̪̹̒̈́ͧ̀͐̓̿͘͠T̮͎̫̝ͫ̔͛̈ͯ̈ͬͣ̈́͟h̲̉̆̀e̬̭ͧ̉ͮ̓ͥ̈́ͨ ̉̆̏͠͏̖̯͚̰W͎̞͕̺ͣ̉̓ͧ̎̽͟a̢̝̝̎̅̌̂ͦ͡ḽ͖͉̽ͥ̌̓̉̆l̠̣̾ͣ̾͛̕.̷̡̩̰̀̑͑̽͋̃̌̓ ̴͙̼̭̺̙̱͚̳̪ͨ̈́́Z̵̶̲̘̗̩̜̍ͭ̀̿͒̊ͫA̴̸ͧ̊̚҉̺͖̠͖̜̠̩͇L̶̲̠̾͗ͦ͐͌ͯͤ̇G̫̞͔̭̻̖̥̜̗͊ͪͦͧ̔ͩ̀͘͜Õ̷͉͈̖̭̰̲̪̾ͭͯ͆̚
  • <br><br><br><br>
  • In case your browser doesn't render it correctly, here's an image:
  • ![zalgo text](https://software.codidact.com/uploads/PomF5mCHCNJY9PQJh2uxjnb6)
  • And it's not that hard to create it, as [there are many generators](https://www.google.com/search?q=zalgo+text+generator) available.
  • Although it doesn't look like regular ("normal") text, it *kinda* is - you can copy-paste it normally (if it'll be correctly displayed, it depends on the editor you're using).
  • But how does it work? How is it created, and how can I detect it and prevent my application from accepting inputs like this?
#2: Post edited by user avatar hkotsubo‭ · 2021-04-29T16:50:19Z (over 3 years ago)
  • A [Zalgo Text](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zalgo_text) is something like this:
  • <br><br>
  • T̃͟͏̧̟͓̯̘͓͙͔o̤̫͋ͯͫ̂ ̥͍̫̻͚̦͖͇̌ͪ̇ͤ̑̐͋̾̕i̢͖̩͙͐͑ͬ̄̿̍̚ͅn̵̢̼̙̳̒̄ͥ̋̐v̡̟̗̹̻̜͕̲ͣ̐ͤͤ͒́oͫ͂̆͑ͩ҉͇̰͚̹̠̫͔̗k̷̭̬̭͙̹̺̯ͩ̌̾̒̋̓ͤ͛͘͠e̥͙̓̄̕ ̵̫͈ͪţ̱̺̺̑̿̉̌͛̂̇h͙̣̬̓̂͞ę̡̲̟͎͉̟͛̓̉̆̉͘ ͍̯̱͎̬͍ͬ̒ͣͩ͟͡ḥ̗͖̝̮̗̼ͮ̋̉̃͐̿ͪͅi̞͉̯͖̞͉̙ͬͦ̄͋̈̂ͥ̊́̕v̶̝̼̫͔̬̯̯ͯ͑̈͠e̪͓͕̦̪̗̠ͯ͛͌̀̉͘ͅ-̍̉ͦ̈́͌͏̸͉͍͖̥͓̭̗̖mͣͣͪ̇͂͏̳̤̺͓̜̪͙͕i͋̏̎ͤ͆́͏̛̰͉̮̬͙̩̩ͅn̴̴̞̗ͩ̓̉̋̕d̝͇̬̣́̃ͦ̀͡ ̖̩̞̯̇̍́̆ͮͤ̄ͬ͂͜͡r̷͎͙͉̀͒͐͛́è̫̹͙̔ͭͦ͑ͩͮͯṗ̶̸͍̺̘͈́̄ͫ̅ͣ̇̃̚r̨͚͎̙̻̜ͬͬ̆͆e̩̞̹͈̱͕ͮ̈́̒̑͛̊̌͛͘ŝ̱̹̠̂ͭͦ̅̅͛̚͜e̝̳̞̊̍̐ñ͔̟̳̱͔ͣ̅̄ͮt̴̫̻̮̤̿̆̂̊͘i̷̫ͤͨ̏ͤͧͅͅn̛̜̠͋͐͆̆͑̎̍͑̚g̶̜ͧ́ͭͯ͐ͬ͛̇͜ ̳̩͉̣̤̜̰̠̌ͤ̆̚͟c̷̝̥͉͓͕͓͇̣͉̒̈̇ͧ͆̌ͣͣ͟ḩͥ̅ͥ̇ͩ͗҉̳͎̱ą̍̀͆͑̈́͂҉͍̤̘͔̹̭̱͢o̥̮̘ͨ̎̄̎́͢s̯̮̖͒.̨͋̈́͑̈́ͪ̚҉̻͓͔̤̯̲̤̺̀ ̔ͨ̋̾̒̋̚̚͏͓̰͙̘͈I̧̗͇ͮ͠n̠̬͗ͮ̿ͭ͌̉̈ͦv̦͚͇̠̹̰̭ͤo̭̞ͫ̃ͨ̏ͥ̒́̚k̯̱͛ͫ͆͂̇͡͝i̗̪͎͈͕͚̥̫ͥ͂̐n̖̤͔̟̖͇̠͋̐̀ͅͅg̛͑ͪ͏͇̪͓̘ ̎̒ͯͥͭ͂͏̠͇̮̪t̡͍̫̘̯̼̣̋ͤ̒h̨͇͕̺͍͈̠͖̤̱ͮ̃e͖̝̣̽ͬ͊̀ ͍ͫ̅̆͊́͌͡fͫ̾͏̭͎̰̣̱̺̯̥é̻̪͖͙̮͓̊̌̓ͩ̑̆ē͙̤̪͈͉̦̭͛̃ͩͧͭ̏͒̕͢ľ̡҉̪͙̻̣̪̼̲i̜ͯ̄̐͠͝n̸̨̩̰̺̱̗̍̉̄̉̆͐̎g̹͖͈ͥ͗̍͝ͅ ̙̹͉̰̪̠͍͖͔ͧ̾̈́ͫ̔͋̈̍o̵̤̥͍ͬ̐̀̿̇ͯ̅f̵̜̟͚́͛͜͠ ̺̭̆̑ͭc̶̢̫̭͓̭̐͗h͍͉̞̩͕ͮ̉́͛͑ͤͯ͒͡ä̜̱͙͎̯̟ͮ̂͑̄͊̍̑͜oͫ̋̿͌͢͏̟̲̗s̵̮̟̙̻̗̭̲͂̍͑͑͂ͤ́̚ͅ.̵̨͉̟͓ͦͯͬͤ͌ͧ͑̾ ̝̥̰͋ͬ͂̋͛͑̚W̶̹̹̣̟͕ͪͤ̽̀i̳̪͉͇͇̟̲̇̃́ͧ̾ͭ̿̆ͯ͡t̬̪̬̑̿͊͊́̚h̋͑̈̇͋҉̴͖̜ͅͅo̴̠̭̯̫̽ͨṳ̡̟͕̝̦͓͖̪̇́́͢t̬̙̖̝͈͔̻͛͊ ̵̛̗̝̝̰̫̞̠̙̽̄̊͆o̺̮͆ͯ͊͑ͭ̚̕ṙ̶̟̺̱̜̺̻̘̰̀͊ͮ̀͡ḋ̢̰̂̎ͦͥe̛̩͍̯̍ͭͩͤͦ̚r͍̲̾ͯ̊͛͡.̮̙͙̠̦̜̳̋̓ͩ͒̓̒͜͝ ̷͋͢͏̬̤̼T̸̯̞̥ͤ̽͛̈̎̚͜ȟ̨̌͋͏̲͚̪̩͚̺͖̠é̻̰̞̣̍̕͟ ̧̩͔̥̘͓̘̽̂͑̏ͣ͑̓̃͝N̬̙͈̗͍̣̻̓́ͨͫͮ͘͜͡e͍̜̠͓̹̙͓̱͑͡z̵̙̦̳̲͓ͭ̑ͮ̀p͒͐҉̹͎̱̯̰͜ȩ̨̗̝͓̥̳̣̈̽ͧ͋̎́͑ͯ̚͞r̮̖̟̆ͩḑ͍͉͚̪̲̭͈̮ͮͬͣͭ̽̐̄̓̑́͜i̶̪͎̹̰̭͎͋͗ͧ͌̎͛͜͢a͉̦͇̖͓̰ͣͭ̾͗n̮̞̣̝̤̤͔̎̊͜ ̧̗͐̃̊͂͢h̴͙̳͉̺͕͌̉ͫ͐͒̋͊i̢̳͓̤̖͎̼ͤ̃̓ͫ̐ͬ̆͌̕͢ṽ͎͉̳̭̭̠̠̬̠͂͐͊̾͊ȩ̣̺̖̒̏̌͠-̛͕̼̞͌͑ͣͨͩ̃̒͢m̶̱̣̥̥̭̉̿ͩͧ̓͛̚ͅi̢͍̙̠ͩ͐̏n̹̩̬͓̬̦̲̈́̉͊̐̎d̨̧̛̤̭̯̥͓ͧ̒ͥ ̞̙̮͌ͫͬͪͤ̌ợ̫̏̋͋͒̈̀f̶̳̿̀̊͐ͅ ̑͘҉̱̯̤̘͕̺͡c̢̭̭̜̲̙̥͊̓ͤ̍ͨ́ẖ̫̖̆̃ͪ̌ͭ͞ä̷̫̺̩̘̪͍́ͤͫͫ̒ͦ͆͂͠͡o̥̖̥͚̾̋͋͊ͨ̆ͅs̘͉͔̲̫̪͕̠̟ͯ̒͋ͦ̒͢.̣̦̦̞ͮͬͩ ̰̦̤̞̹̮̟ͩ̓̂̓̉͒̏ͫ͢Z̎́̉͘͏̗̮a̧͌͋̂͛̏͏͏̣̩͍̞l̛̟̥͎ͨ͒̐ͤ͛ͅg̰̣ͫͣ̂̋͊ô̷̶͕̩͎̳̻̣̯̘̋̊̅ͧ̏ͫ.̴̮̯̺̻̻̣̻̣̗̿ͯ͒ ̹̮̮̱͖̫̝̋ͥ͆̌͛ͬ͌̄͗͟H̢̅҉̘̠̻e̷͊͊͋ͪ̑҉̮̻̬̞̖̖̭̩̩̕ ̬̪̍͜ͅw̴̧̳͓͓̤̤ͮ̍ͨ͒͜ͅh̳̱ͪ͋ͦ͗o͚͎̭͎͍̺̽ͣͦͅ ̣͙͊̑ͣ̄W͍͔̻͉̲̹͇̼̑̇ͥ̔̎ͮ̚͟a̫̞ͪ̔͘͜į̷̶͔͍̰͙̖̻̲ͯ̓̄͌̄̒̔̆t̷͚͓̼̼̔̈̄̀̚sͭ̎͛ͨ͏̼̻̗͚̼̫ ̵̨̦ͪ͂̂B͂̈́҉̸͎̩͓e͌͂҉̤͕̲͇̮h̴̤͎̟̫̐̀̐ͬį̖̪̜̦̋̔n̨̯͚̽͗̾̀̾̿̏̀d̙͔ͬͧ̃ͯ̀ͦͫ͌ ̸̮͓͎̣̻̪̹̒̈́ͧ̀͐̓̿͘͠T̮͎̫̝ͫ̔͛̈ͯ̈ͬͣ̈́͟h̲̉̆̀e̬̭ͧ̉ͮ̓ͥ̈́ͨ ̉̆̏͠͏̖̯͚̰W͎̞͕̺ͣ̉̓ͧ̎̽͟a̢̝̝̎̅̌̂ͦ͡ḽ͖͉̽ͥ̌̓̉̆l̠̣̾ͣ̾͛̕.̷̡̩̰̀̑͑̽͋̃̌̓ ̴͙̼̭̺̙̱͚̳̪ͨ̈́́Z̵̶̲̘̗̩̜̍ͭ̀̿͒̊ͫA̴̸ͧ̊̚҉̺͖̠͖̜̠̩͇L̶̲̠̾͗ͦ͐͌ͯͤ̇G̫̞͔̭̻̖̥̜̗͊ͪͦͧ̔ͩ̀͘͜Õ̷͉͈̖̭̰̲̪̾ͭͯ͆̚
  • <br><br>
  • And it's not that hard to create it, as [there are many generators](https://www.google.com/search?q=zalgo+text+generator) available.
  • Although it doesn't look like regular ("normal") text, it *kinda* is - you can copy-paste it normally (if it'll be correctly displayed, it depends on the editor you're using).
  • But how does it work? How is it created, and how can I detect it and prevent my application from accepting inputs like this?
  • A [Zalgo Text](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zalgo_text) is something like this:
  • <br><br>
  • T̃͟͏̧̟͓̯̘͓͙͔o̤̫͋ͯͫ̂ ̥͍̫̻͚̦͖͇̌ͪ̇ͤ̑̐͋̾̕i̢͖̩͙͐͑ͬ̄̿̍̚ͅn̵̢̼̙̳̒̄ͥ̋̐v̡̟̗̹̻̜͕̲ͣ̐ͤͤ͒́oͫ͂̆͑ͩ҉͇̰͚̹̠̫͔̗k̷̭̬̭͙̹̺̯ͩ̌̾̒̋̓ͤ͛͘͠e̥͙̓̄̕ ̵̫͈ͪţ̱̺̺̑̿̉̌͛̂̇h͙̣̬̓̂͞ę̡̲̟͎͉̟͛̓̉̆̉͘ ͍̯̱͎̬͍ͬ̒ͣͩ͟͡ḥ̗͖̝̮̗̼ͮ̋̉̃͐̿ͪͅi̞͉̯͖̞͉̙ͬͦ̄͋̈̂ͥ̊́̕v̶̝̼̫͔̬̯̯ͯ͑̈͠e̪͓͕̦̪̗̠ͯ͛͌̀̉͘ͅ-̍̉ͦ̈́͌͏̸͉͍͖̥͓̭̗̖mͣͣͪ̇͂͏̳̤̺͓̜̪͙͕i͋̏̎ͤ͆́͏̛̰͉̮̬͙̩̩ͅn̴̴̞̗ͩ̓̉̋̕d̝͇̬̣́̃ͦ̀͡ ̖̩̞̯̇̍́̆ͮͤ̄ͬ͂͜͡r̷͎͙͉̀͒͐͛́è̫̹͙̔ͭͦ͑ͩͮͯṗ̶̸͍̺̘͈́̄ͫ̅ͣ̇̃̚r̨͚͎̙̻̜ͬͬ̆͆e̩̞̹͈̱͕ͮ̈́̒̑͛̊̌͛͘ŝ̱̹̠̂ͭͦ̅̅͛̚͜e̝̳̞̊̍̐ñ͔̟̳̱͔ͣ̅̄ͮt̴̫̻̮̤̿̆̂̊͘i̷̫ͤͨ̏ͤͧͅͅn̛̜̠͋͐͆̆͑̎̍͑̚g̶̜ͧ́ͭͯ͐ͬ͛̇͜ ̳̩͉̣̤̜̰̠̌ͤ̆̚͟c̷̝̥͉͓͕͓͇̣͉̒̈̇ͧ͆̌ͣͣ͟ḩͥ̅ͥ̇ͩ͗҉̳͎̱ą̍̀͆͑̈́͂҉͍̤̘͔̹̭̱͢o̥̮̘ͨ̎̄̎́͢s̯̮̖͒.̨͋̈́͑̈́ͪ̚҉̻͓͔̤̯̲̤̺̀ ̔ͨ̋̾̒̋̚̚͏͓̰͙̘͈I̧̗͇ͮ͠n̠̬͗ͮ̿ͭ͌̉̈ͦv̦͚͇̠̹̰̭ͤo̭̞ͫ̃ͨ̏ͥ̒́̚k̯̱͛ͫ͆͂̇͡͝i̗̪͎͈͕͚̥̫ͥ͂̐n̖̤͔̟̖͇̠͋̐̀ͅͅg̛͑ͪ͏͇̪͓̘ ̎̒ͯͥͭ͂͏̠͇̮̪t̡͍̫̘̯̼̣̋ͤ̒h̨͇͕̺͍͈̠͖̤̱ͮ̃e͖̝̣̽ͬ͊̀ ͍ͫ̅̆͊́͌͡fͫ̾͏̭͎̰̣̱̺̯̥é̻̪͖͙̮͓̊̌̓ͩ̑̆ē͙̤̪͈͉̦̭͛̃ͩͧͭ̏͒̕͢ľ̡҉̪͙̻̣̪̼̲i̜ͯ̄̐͠͝n̸̨̩̰̺̱̗̍̉̄̉̆͐̎g̹͖͈ͥ͗̍͝ͅ ̙̹͉̰̪̠͍͖͔ͧ̾̈́ͫ̔͋̈̍o̵̤̥͍ͬ̐̀̿̇ͯ̅f̵̜̟͚́͛͜͠ ̺̭̆̑ͭc̶̢̫̭͓̭̐͗h͍͉̞̩͕ͮ̉́͛͑ͤͯ͒͡ä̜̱͙͎̯̟ͮ̂͑̄͊̍̑͜oͫ̋̿͌͢͏̟̲̗s̵̮̟̙̻̗̭̲͂̍͑͑͂ͤ́̚ͅ.̵̨͉̟͓ͦͯͬͤ͌ͧ͑̾ ̝̥̰͋ͬ͂̋͛͑̚W̶̹̹̣̟͕ͪͤ̽̀i̳̪͉͇͇̟̲̇̃́ͧ̾ͭ̿̆ͯ͡t̬̪̬̑̿͊͊́̚h̋͑̈̇͋҉̴͖̜ͅͅo̴̠̭̯̫̽ͨṳ̡̟͕̝̦͓͖̪̇́́͢t̬̙̖̝͈͔̻͛͊ ̵̛̗̝̝̰̫̞̠̙̽̄̊͆o̺̮͆ͯ͊͑ͭ̚̕ṙ̶̟̺̱̜̺̻̘̰̀͊ͮ̀͡ḋ̢̰̂̎ͦͥe̛̩͍̯̍ͭͩͤͦ̚r͍̲̾ͯ̊͛͡.̮̙͙̠̦̜̳̋̓ͩ͒̓̒͜͝ ̷͋͢͏̬̤̼T̸̯̞̥ͤ̽͛̈̎̚͜ȟ̨̌͋͏̲͚̪̩͚̺͖̠é̻̰̞̣̍̕͟ ̧̩͔̥̘͓̘̽̂͑̏ͣ͑̓̃͝N̬̙͈̗͍̣̻̓́ͨͫͮ͘͜͡e͍̜̠͓̹̙͓̱͑͡z̵̙̦̳̲͓ͭ̑ͮ̀p͒͐҉̹͎̱̯̰͜ȩ̨̗̝͓̥̳̣̈̽ͧ͋̎́͑ͯ̚͞r̮̖̟̆ͩḑ͍͉͚̪̲̭͈̮ͮͬͣͭ̽̐̄̓̑́͜i̶̪͎̹̰̭͎͋͗ͧ͌̎͛͜͢a͉̦͇̖͓̰ͣͭ̾͗n̮̞̣̝̤̤͔̎̊͜ ̧̗͐̃̊͂͢h̴͙̳͉̺͕͌̉ͫ͐͒̋͊i̢̳͓̤̖͎̼ͤ̃̓ͫ̐ͬ̆͌̕͢ṽ͎͉̳̭̭̠̠̬̠͂͐͊̾͊ȩ̣̺̖̒̏̌͠-̛͕̼̞͌͑ͣͨͩ̃̒͢m̶̱̣̥̥̭̉̿ͩͧ̓͛̚ͅi̢͍̙̠ͩ͐̏n̹̩̬͓̬̦̲̈́̉͊̐̎d̨̧̛̤̭̯̥͓ͧ̒ͥ ̞̙̮͌ͫͬͪͤ̌ợ̫̏̋͋͒̈̀f̶̳̿̀̊͐ͅ ̑͘҉̱̯̤̘͕̺͡c̢̭̭̜̲̙̥͊̓ͤ̍ͨ́ẖ̫̖̆̃ͪ̌ͭ͞ä̷̫̺̩̘̪͍́ͤͫͫ̒ͦ͆͂͠͡o̥̖̥͚̾̋͋͊ͨ̆ͅs̘͉͔̲̫̪͕̠̟ͯ̒͋ͦ̒͢.̣̦̦̞ͮͬͩ ̰̦̤̞̹̮̟ͩ̓̂̓̉͒̏ͫ͢Z̎́̉͘͏̗̮a̧͌͋̂͛̏͏͏̣̩͍̞l̛̟̥͎ͨ͒̐ͤ͛ͅg̰̣ͫͣ̂̋͊ô̷̶͕̩͎̳̻̣̯̘̋̊̅ͧ̏ͫ.̴̮̯̺̻̻̣̻̣̗̿ͯ͒ ̹̮̮̱͖̫̝̋ͥ͆̌͛ͬ͌̄͗͟H̢̅҉̘̠̻e̷͊͊͋ͪ̑҉̮̻̬̞̖̖̭̩̩̕ ̬̪̍͜ͅw̴̧̳͓͓̤̤ͮ̍ͨ͒͜ͅh̳̱ͪ͋ͦ͗o͚͎̭͎͍̺̽ͣͦͅ ̣͙͊̑ͣ̄W͍͔̻͉̲̹͇̼̑̇ͥ̔̎ͮ̚͟a̫̞ͪ̔͘͜į̷̶͔͍̰͙̖̻̲ͯ̓̄͌̄̒̔̆t̷͚͓̼̼̔̈̄̀̚sͭ̎͛ͨ͏̼̻̗͚̼̫ ̵̨̦ͪ͂̂B͂̈́҉̸͎̩͓e͌͂҉̤͕̲͇̮h̴̤͎̟̫̐̀̐ͬį̖̪̜̦̋̔n̨̯͚̽͗̾̀̾̿̏̀d̙͔ͬͧ̃ͯ̀ͦͫ͌ ̸̮͓͎̣̻̪̹̒̈́ͧ̀͐̓̿͘͠T̮͎̫̝ͫ̔͛̈ͯ̈ͬͣ̈́͟h̲̉̆̀e̬̭ͧ̉ͮ̓ͥ̈́ͨ ̉̆̏͠͏̖̯͚̰W͎̞͕̺ͣ̉̓ͧ̎̽͟a̢̝̝̎̅̌̂ͦ͡ḽ͖͉̽ͥ̌̓̉̆l̠̣̾ͣ̾͛̕.̷̡̩̰̀̑͑̽͋̃̌̓ ̴͙̼̭̺̙̱͚̳̪ͨ̈́́Z̵̶̲̘̗̩̜̍ͭ̀̿͒̊ͫA̴̸ͧ̊̚҉̺͖̠͖̜̠̩͇L̶̲̠̾͗ͦ͐͌ͯͤ̇G̫̞͔̭̻̖̥̜̗͊ͪͦͧ̔ͩ̀͘͜Õ̷͉͈̖̭̰̲̪̾ͭͯ͆̚
  • <br><br>
  • In case your browser doesn't render it correctly, here's an image:
  • ![zalgo text](https://software.codidact.com/uploads/PomF5mCHCNJY9PQJh2uxjnb6)
  • And it's not that hard to create it, as [there are many generators](https://www.google.com/search?q=zalgo+text+generator) available.
  • Although it doesn't look like regular ("normal") text, it *kinda* is - you can copy-paste it normally (if it'll be correctly displayed, it depends on the editor you're using).
  • But how does it work? How is it created, and how can I detect it and prevent my application from accepting inputs like this?
#1: Initial revision by user avatar hkotsubo‭ · 2021-04-29T16:47:36Z (over 3 years ago)
How does Zalgo Text work, and how can I prevent my application from accepting it?
A [Zalgo Text](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zalgo_text) is something like this:

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T̃͟͏̧̟͓̯̘͓͙͔o̤̫͋ͯͫ̂ ̥͍̫̻͚̦͖͇̌ͪ̇ͤ̑̐͋̾̕i̢͖̩͙͐͑ͬ̄̿̍̚ͅn̵̢̼̙̳̒̄ͥ̋̐v̡̟̗̹̻̜͕̲ͣ̐ͤͤ͒́oͫ͂̆͑ͩ҉͇̰͚̹̠̫͔̗k̷̭̬̭͙̹̺̯ͩ̌̾̒̋̓ͤ͛͘͠e̥͙̓̄̕ ̵̫͈ͪţ̱̺̺̑̿̉̌͛̂̇h͙̣̬̓̂͞ę̡̲̟͎͉̟͛̓̉̆̉͘ ͍̯̱͎̬͍ͬ̒ͣͩ͟͡ḥ̗͖̝̮̗̼ͮ̋̉̃͐̿ͪͅi̞͉̯͖̞͉̙ͬͦ̄͋̈̂ͥ̊́̕v̶̝̼̫͔̬̯̯ͯ͑̈͠e̪͓͕̦̪̗̠ͯ͛͌̀̉͘ͅ-̍̉ͦ̈́͌͏̸͉͍͖̥͓̭̗̖mͣͣͪ̇͂͏̳̤̺͓̜̪͙͕i͋̏̎ͤ͆́͏̛̰͉̮̬͙̩̩ͅn̴̴̞̗ͩ̓̉̋̕d̝͇̬̣́̃ͦ̀͡ ̖̩̞̯̇̍́̆ͮͤ̄ͬ͂͜͡r̷͎͙͉̀͒͐͛́è̫̹͙̔ͭͦ͑ͩͮͯṗ̶̸͍̺̘͈́̄ͫ̅ͣ̇̃̚r̨͚͎̙̻̜ͬͬ̆͆e̩̞̹͈̱͕ͮ̈́̒̑͛̊̌͛͘ŝ̱̹̠̂ͭͦ̅̅͛̚͜e̝̳̞̊̍̐ñ͔̟̳̱͔ͣ̅̄ͮt̴̫̻̮̤̿̆̂̊͘i̷̫ͤͨ̏ͤͧͅͅn̛̜̠͋͐͆̆͑̎̍͑̚g̶̜ͧ́ͭͯ͐ͬ͛̇͜ ̳̩͉̣̤̜̰̠̌ͤ̆̚͟c̷̝̥͉͓͕͓͇̣͉̒̈̇ͧ͆̌ͣͣ͟ḩͥ̅ͥ̇ͩ͗҉̳͎̱ą̍̀͆͑̈́͂҉͍̤̘͔̹̭̱͢o̥̮̘ͨ̎̄̎́͢s̯̮̖͒.̨͋̈́͑̈́ͪ̚҉̻͓͔̤̯̲̤̺̀ ̔ͨ̋̾̒̋̚̚͏͓̰͙̘͈I̧̗͇ͮ͠n̠̬͗ͮ̿ͭ͌̉̈ͦv̦͚͇̠̹̰̭ͤo̭̞ͫ̃ͨ̏ͥ̒́̚k̯̱͛ͫ͆͂̇͡͝i̗̪͎͈͕͚̥̫ͥ͂̐n̖̤͔̟̖͇̠͋̐̀ͅͅg̛͑ͪ͏͇̪͓̘ ̎̒ͯͥͭ͂͏̠͇̮̪t̡͍̫̘̯̼̣̋ͤ̒h̨͇͕̺͍͈̠͖̤̱ͮ̃e͖̝̣̽ͬ͊̀ ͍ͫ̅̆͊́͌͡fͫ̾͏̭͎̰̣̱̺̯̥é̻̪͖͙̮͓̊̌̓ͩ̑̆ē͙̤̪͈͉̦̭͛̃ͩͧͭ̏͒̕͢ľ̡҉̪͙̻̣̪̼̲i̜ͯ̄̐͠͝n̸̨̩̰̺̱̗̍̉̄̉̆͐̎g̹͖͈ͥ͗̍͝ͅ ̙̹͉̰̪̠͍͖͔ͧ̾̈́ͫ̔͋̈̍o̵̤̥͍ͬ̐̀̿̇ͯ̅f̵̜̟͚́͛͜͠ ̺̭̆̑ͭc̶̢̫̭͓̭̐͗h͍͉̞̩͕ͮ̉́͛͑ͤͯ͒͡ä̜̱͙͎̯̟ͮ̂͑̄͊̍̑͜oͫ̋̿͌͢͏̟̲̗s̵̮̟̙̻̗̭̲͂̍͑͑͂ͤ́̚ͅ.̵̨͉̟͓ͦͯͬͤ͌ͧ͑̾ ̝̥̰͋ͬ͂̋͛͑̚W̶̹̹̣̟͕ͪͤ̽̀i̳̪͉͇͇̟̲̇̃́ͧ̾ͭ̿̆ͯ͡t̬̪̬̑̿͊͊́̚h̋͑̈̇͋҉̴͖̜ͅͅo̴̠̭̯̫̽ͨṳ̡̟͕̝̦͓͖̪̇́́͢t̬̙̖̝͈͔̻͛͊ ̵̛̗̝̝̰̫̞̠̙̽̄̊͆o̺̮͆ͯ͊͑ͭ̚̕ṙ̶̟̺̱̜̺̻̘̰̀͊ͮ̀͡ḋ̢̰̂̎ͦͥe̛̩͍̯̍ͭͩͤͦ̚r͍̲̾ͯ̊͛͡.̮̙͙̠̦̜̳̋̓ͩ͒̓̒͜͝ ̷͋͢͏̬̤̼T̸̯̞̥ͤ̽͛̈̎̚͜ȟ̨̌͋͏̲͚̪̩͚̺͖̠é̻̰̞̣̍̕͟ ̧̩͔̥̘͓̘̽̂͑̏ͣ͑̓̃͝N̬̙͈̗͍̣̻̓́ͨͫͮ͘͜͡e͍̜̠͓̹̙͓̱͑͡z̵̙̦̳̲͓ͭ̑ͮ̀p͒͐҉̹͎̱̯̰͜ȩ̨̗̝͓̥̳̣̈̽ͧ͋̎́͑ͯ̚͞r̮̖̟̆ͩḑ͍͉͚̪̲̭͈̮ͮͬͣͭ̽̐̄̓̑́͜i̶̪͎̹̰̭͎͋͗ͧ͌̎͛͜͢a͉̦͇̖͓̰ͣͭ̾͗n̮̞̣̝̤̤͔̎̊͜ ̧̗͐̃̊͂͢h̴͙̳͉̺͕͌̉ͫ͐͒̋͊i̢̳͓̤̖͎̼ͤ̃̓ͫ̐ͬ̆͌̕͢ṽ͎͉̳̭̭̠̠̬̠͂͐͊̾͊ȩ̣̺̖̒̏̌͠-̛͕̼̞͌͑ͣͨͩ̃̒͢m̶̱̣̥̥̭̉̿ͩͧ̓͛̚ͅi̢͍̙̠ͩ͐̏n̹̩̬͓̬̦̲̈́̉͊̐̎d̨̧̛̤̭̯̥͓ͧ̒ͥ ̞̙̮͌ͫͬͪͤ̌ợ̫̏̋͋͒̈̀f̶̳̿̀̊͐ͅ ̑͘҉̱̯̤̘͕̺͡c̢̭̭̜̲̙̥͊̓ͤ̍ͨ́ẖ̫̖̆̃ͪ̌ͭ͞ä̷̫̺̩̘̪͍́ͤͫͫ̒ͦ͆͂͠͡o̥̖̥͚̾̋͋͊ͨ̆ͅs̘͉͔̲̫̪͕̠̟ͯ̒͋ͦ̒͢.̣̦̦̞ͮͬͩ ̰̦̤̞̹̮̟ͩ̓̂̓̉͒̏ͫ͢Z̎́̉͘͏̗̮a̧͌͋̂͛̏͏͏̣̩͍̞l̛̟̥͎ͨ͒̐ͤ͛ͅg̰̣ͫͣ̂̋͊ô̷̶͕̩͎̳̻̣̯̘̋̊̅ͧ̏ͫ.̴̮̯̺̻̻̣̻̣̗̿ͯ͒ ̹̮̮̱͖̫̝̋ͥ͆̌͛ͬ͌̄͗͟H̢̅҉̘̠̻e̷͊͊͋ͪ̑҉̮̻̬̞̖̖̭̩̩̕ ̬̪̍͜ͅw̴̧̳͓͓̤̤ͮ̍ͨ͒͜ͅh̳̱ͪ͋ͦ͗o͚͎̭͎͍̺̽ͣͦͅ ̣͙͊̑ͣ̄W͍͔̻͉̲̹͇̼̑̇ͥ̔̎ͮ̚͟a̫̞ͪ̔͘͜į̷̶͔͍̰͙̖̻̲ͯ̓̄͌̄̒̔̆t̷͚͓̼̼̔̈̄̀̚sͭ̎͛ͨ͏̼̻̗͚̼̫ ̵̨̦ͪ͂̂B͂̈́҉̸͎̩͓e͌͂҉̤͕̲͇̮h̴̤͎̟̫̐̀̐ͬį̖̪̜̦̋̔n̨̯͚̽͗̾̀̾̿̏̀d̙͔ͬͧ̃ͯ̀ͦͫ͌ ̸̮͓͎̣̻̪̹̒̈́ͧ̀͐̓̿͘͠T̮͎̫̝ͫ̔͛̈ͯ̈ͬͣ̈́͟h̲̉̆̀e̬̭ͧ̉ͮ̓ͥ̈́ͨ ̉̆̏͠͏̖̯͚̰W͎̞͕̺ͣ̉̓ͧ̎̽͟a̢̝̝̎̅̌̂ͦ͡ḽ͖͉̽ͥ̌̓̉̆l̠̣̾ͣ̾͛̕.̷̡̩̰̀̑͑̽͋̃̌̓ ̴͙̼̭̺̙̱͚̳̪ͨ̈́́Z̵̶̲̘̗̩̜̍ͭ̀̿͒̊ͫA̴̸ͧ̊̚҉̺͖̠͖̜̠̩͇L̶̲̠̾͗ͦ͐͌ͯͤ̇G̫̞͔̭̻̖̥̜̗͊ͪͦͧ̔ͩ̀͘͜Õ̷͉͈̖̭̰̲̪̾ͭͯ͆̚

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And it's not that hard to create it, as [there are many generators](https://www.google.com/search?q=zalgo+text+generator) available.

Although it doesn't look like regular ("normal") text, it *kinda* is - you can copy-paste it normally (if it'll be correctly displayed, it depends on the editor you're using).

But how does it work? How is it created, and how can I detect it and prevent my application from accepting inputs like this?