Leetspeak

Substituting letters with similar-looking numbers (e.g. e→3, o→0). Originated in 90s online culture.

Leetspeak (or 1337 speak) is the practice of replacing letters in text with numbers or symbols that look similar — e for 3, a for 4, o for 0, t for 7. It originated in early online forums and gaming communities as a way to evade keyword filters. In 2026 it's mostly a stylistic choice that signals retro gaming aesthetics. Modern handle conventions tend to avoid heavy leet substitution because it harms readability.