Leetspeak (also written l33t or 1337) is an internet writing style that replaces letters with visually similar numbers and symbols. It started in early bulletin-board and gaming communities in the 1980s and 1990s, originally used to bypass keyword filters and create an in-group writing style among early hackers and gamers. Today it is used for usernames, gamertags, memes, and playful obfuscation. This Level 2 converter goes beyond the simple vowel-to-digit swaps of Level 1 by mapping more letters to symbols, producing a denser, more recognisably “hacker” look.
How it works
Each character is checked against a substitution table. Lowercase and uppercase versions of a letter map to the same replacement. The Level 2 table includes mappings such as A -> @, B -> 8, E -> 3, G -> 6, I -> 1, L -> |, O -> 0, S -> 5, T -> 7 and Z -> 2. Any character without a mapping — including spaces, digits already present, and punctuation — is left untouched, so the overall shape of the text stays readable.
Level 1 vs Level 2: what changes
Level 1 sticks to simple digit replacements that most readers can sound out instantly — a→4, e→3, i→1, o→0, t→7, s→5. Level 2 extends that with symbol-based swaps that are less obviously alphabetic, making the output harder to read at a glance:
| Letter | Level 1 | Level 2 |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | @ |
| B | — | 8 |
| G | 9 | 6 |
| L | 1 | ` |
| S | 5 | 5 |
| T | 7 | 7 |
The @ for A and | for L are the most visually distinctive Level 2 additions, producing that stylised quality common in gaming handles and graffiti-influenced logos.
Worked example
The phrase “Flash Sale” becomes F|@5h 54|3 in Level 2 leet. Compare with Level 1 output of F14sh 541e — the Level 2 version is noticeably denser and more stylised.
Practical uses
- Gamertags and usernames. Level 2 leet produces names that are still pronounceable but visually distinctive:
Str1k3r(Level 1) becomes5tr!k3ror|3g3ndat Level 2. - Graphic design references. The
@and|substitutions translate well to stencils, graffiti lettering, and retro tech aesthetics. - Comparative use. Run the same word through Level 1 and Level 2 side-by-side to pick the density you want.
Leetspeak is a stylistic effect, not encryption. Several letters collapse onto the same symbol, so the transformation is one-way. For an even more extreme look with multi-character substitutions like M -> /\/\, try the Level 3 converter.