What is 1337?

The number 1337 is often associated with "leet" or "leetspeak," a form of modified spelling used primarily online. "Leet" is derived from the word "elite" and is characterized by the substitution of letters with numbers or other characters. In leetspeak, 1337 represents the word "leet," where "1" stands for "L," "3" stands for "E," and "7" for "T." This linguistic phenomenon originated in online forums and gaming communities as a way to evade simple text filters or to create a sense of in-group identity among users.

Leetspeak often features a mix of numbers, symbols, and letters in place of typical alphabetic characters, and its complexity can range from simple to elaborate substitutions. While it began as a way for hackers to communicate clandestinely, it became a broader part of internet culture, known for its use in gaming communities and online chat rooms during the late 1990s and early 2000s.