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Welcome to Software Development on Codidact!

Will you help us build our independent community of developers helping developers? We're small and trying to grow. We welcome questions about all aspects of software development, from design to code to QA and more. Got questions? Got answers? Got code you'd like someone to review? Please join us.

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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 11mo 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?