Leetspeak (1337) Converter
Convert text into leetspeak (1337 5p34k), swapping common letters for visually similar numbers and symbols.
Swaps common letters for visually similar numbers and symbols (a→4, e→3, i→1, o→0, s→5, t→7), the convention that grew out of 1990s internet and BBS culture. Purely cosmetic wordplay, not obfuscation anyone would take seriously as actual security.
Frequently asked questions
Where did leetspeak come from?+
It grew out of 1990s internet and BBS (bulletin board system) culture, partly as an in-group signal and partly to dodge early, crude text filters that only matched exact word spellings.
Is this a real form of obfuscation or security?+
No, it's cosmetic wordplay. The letter-to-symbol substitutions are simple, well-known, and instantly readable by a human or a basic pattern match, it offers no real security value.
Which letters get converted?+
The common set: a→4, e→3, i→1, o→0, s→5, t→7, l→1, g→9, b→8. Letters without an obvious numeric look-alike stay as-is.