xkcd - Revision history

DollarStoreBa'al: /* Style */

2026-04-16T13:22:26Z

‎Style

FaviFake: /* The name xkcd */

2026-03-07T10:26:26Z

‎The name xkcd

FaviFake at 10:26, 7 March 2026

2026-03-07T10:26:14Z

Logalex8369: oops, i said "its" instead of "the"

2026-03-05T20:13:55Z

oops, i said "its" instead of "the"

Logalex8369: Added another theory about what "xkcd" means, grabbed from a Quora post about it. (I couldn't find any rules about "vulgar" words on the wiki.)

2026-03-05T20:13:04Z

Added another theory about what "xkcd" means, grabbed from a Quora post about it. (I couldn't find any rules about "vulgar" words on the wiki.)

81.179.199.253: /* The name xkcd */ Tidying up the wikilink. And decided it doesn't need to be given alternate title-case, but simple to add back in if it does...

2026-03-04T21:19:18Z

‎The name xkcd: Tidying up the wikilink. And decided it doesn't need to be given alternate title-case, but simple to add back in if it does...

Logalex8369: Added theory about what "xkcd" means: by shifting the letters in "xkcd" one key up on a standard Qwerty keyboard, you end up with the word "side".

2026-03-04T20:48:08Z

Added theory about what "xkcd" means: by shifting the letters in "xkcd" one key up on a standard Qwerty keyboard, you end up with the word "side".

81.179.199.253: /* The name xkcd */ Dereffed (made it a simple inline link). Also decided not to have the sentence that said that it should be XKCD at the start of sentences start with bare "xkcd" (even with the quotes, it certainly didn't help the self-contradiction).

2026-02-15T18:42:41Z

‎The name xkcd: Dereffed (made it a simple inline link). Also decided not to have the sentence that said that it should be XKCD at the start of sentences start with bare "xkcd" (even with the quotes, it certainly didn't help the self-contradiction).

Maxcodes: Fixed <ref> tag for embed on 207.

2026-02-15T16:13:52Z

Fixed <ref> tag for embed on 207.

Maxcodes: Added capitalization information.

2026-02-15T16:11:48Z

Added capitalization information.

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ==Style==
-''xkcd'' comics are usually plain, predominantly black-and-white line drawings, but [[:Category:Comics with color|sometimes]] they make use of hues beyond the usual monochrome colors, even if it is just [[:Category:Comics with red annotations|red annotations]]. Although quite complex objects can be drawn, or conventionally cartoon-like representations of things and [[:Category:Squirrels|animals]], a majority of the people featured are [[stick figure]]s who have become a cast of recurring [[characters]]. The ''xkcd'' art style has undergone many changes over time. Initially, the comics were made by scanning hand-drawn sketches. However, they eventually transitioned to being entirely digitally inked and lettered. Another notable change was in the style of text used. While [[:Category:Comics with lowercase text|early comics featured sentence-case text]], Randall began writing in all-caps non-cursive handwriting with [[90: Jacket]]. It took several comics for this to become the standard practice. In the early days of ''xkcd'', Randall used [[:Category:Checkered paper|checkered paper]] with a grid for most of his initial drawings. This grid became a distinctive part of the style of the early ''xkcd'' comics, as it was used for most of his LiveJournal comics, and the last comic by date to use it was [[39: Bowl]]. The faint remains of gridlines in some comics suggest that Randall may have erased gridlines in these comics. In 2012, Randall revived the blue grid as a background image for ''[[what if? (blog)|what if?]]''.
+''xkcd'' comics are usually plain, predominantly black-and-white line drawings, but [[:Category:Comics with color|sometimes]] they make use of hues beyond the usual monochrome colors. Earlier comics tended to use simple [[:Category:Comics with red annotations|red annotations]], but later comics utilize more colors. Although quite complex objects can be drawn, or conventionally cartoon-like representations of things and [[:Category:Squirrels|animals]], a majority of the people featured are [[stick figure]]s who have become a cast of recurring [[characters]]. The ''xkcd'' art style has undergone many changes over time. Initially, the comics were made by scanning hand-drawn sketches. However, they eventually transitioned to being entirely digitally inked and lettered. Another notable change was in the style of text used. While [[:Category:Comics with lowercase text|early comics featured sentence-case text]], Randall began writing in all-caps non-cursive handwriting with [[90: Jacket]]. It took several comics for this to become the standard practice. In the early days of ''xkcd'', Randall used [[:Category:Checkered paper|checkered paper]] with a grid for most of his initial drawings. This grid became a distinctive part of the style of the early ''xkcd'' comics, as it was used for most of his LiveJournal comics, and the last comic by date to use it was [[39: Bowl]]. The faint remains of gridlines in some comics suggest that Randall may have erased gridlines in these comics. In 2012, Randall revived the blue grid as a background image for ''[[what if? (blog)|what if?]]''.
 Occasionally, Randall releases comics that go beyond the norm. These unique comics might involve user interactivity, utilize specific HTTP behaviors, or explore innovative graphic techniques, setting them apart from the ordinary static comics. He will use {{w|GIF#Animated GIF|animated GIFs}}, rather than standard formats, for some of the simpler [[:Category:Comics with animation|dynamic comic]] images and will engage with complex page and server-side scripting to present the reader with the more immersive or interactive content.

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 * "x", "k", "c", and "d" are consecutive letters when typed on a left-handed [[:Category:Dvorak|Dvorak]] keyboard.
 * By shifting the letters in "xkcd" one key up on a standard {{w|QWERTY}} keyboard, you end up with the word "side".
-* A [https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-name-xkcd-mean/answer/Narayan-Babu/ Quora user] noted that reversing the letters in "xkcd" gives "dckx", which can be pronounced as "dicks".
+* A [https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-name-xkcd-mean/answer/Narayan-Babu/ Quora user] noted that reversing the letters in "xkcd" gives "dckx", which can be pronounced as "dicks".<!--
 PAGE TRANSCLUDED IN [[207]], DON'T REMOVE <noinclude> TAGS PLEASE --><noinclude>

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 * "x", "k", "c", and "d" are consecutive letters when typed on a left-handed [[:Category:Dvorak|Dvorak]] keyboard.
 * By shifting the letters in "xkcd" one key up on a standard {{w|QWERTY}} keyboard, you end up with the word "side".
-* A [https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-name-xkcd-mean/answer/Narayan-Babu/ Quora account] noted that reversing the letters in "xkcd" gives "dckx", which can be pronounced as "dicks".
+* A [https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-name-xkcd-mean/answer/Narayan-Babu/ Quora user] noted that reversing the letters in "xkcd" gives "dckx", which can be pronounced as "dicks".
 <!--

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 * "x", "k", "c", and "d" are consecutive letters when typed on a left-handed [[:Category:Dvorak|Dvorak]] keyboard.
 * By shifting the letters in "xkcd" one key up on a standard {{w|QWERTY}} keyboard, you end up with the word "side".
-* A [https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-name-xkcd-mean/answer/Narayan-Babu/ Quora account] noted that reversing its letters in "xkcd" gives "dckx", which can be pronounced as "dicks".
+* A [https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-name-xkcd-mean/answer/Narayan-Babu/ Quora account] noted that reversing the letters in "xkcd" gives "dckx", which can be pronounced as "dicks".
 <!--

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 * "x", "k", "c", and "d" are consecutive letters when typed on a left-handed [[:Category:Dvorak|Dvorak]] keyboard.
 * By shifting the letters in "xkcd" one key up on a standard {{w|QWERTY}} keyboard, you end up with the word "side".
 <!--

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 * A [https://web.archive.org/web/20200728001540/https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/c2049n/the_names_mystery_unveiled/ now-deleted] Reddit account noted that typing "xkcd" on a Persian QWERTY keyboard returns "طنزی", which means satirical, sarcastic, and comic.
 * "x", "k", "c", and "d" are consecutive letters when typed on a left-handed [[:Category:Dvorak|Dvorak]] keyboard.
-* By shifting the letters in "xkcd" one key up on a standard [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QWERTY Qwerty] keyboard, you end up with the word "side".
+* By shifting the letters in "xkcd" one key up on a standard {{w|QWERTY}} keyboard, you end up with the word "side".
 <!--

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 According to the [https://xkcd.com/about ''xkcd'' FAQ] and [[Randall Munroe]] himself, the name ''xkcd'' doesn't stand for anything. He [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJOS0sV2a24#t=44m31s says] it originated as a previously unused, unpronounceable, random four-letter string which he used as his username on various internet services.<ref name="aboutpage">https://xkcd.com/about/</ref> <noinclude><!-- PAGE TRANSCLUDED IN [[207]], DON'T REMOVE <noinclude> TAGS PLEASE -->See also the comic titled [[207: What xkcd Means]]. {{incomplete|Give some examples where Randall himself used the lowercase, uppercase , and "Xkcd" version.)}}
-"xkcd" should always be entirely lowercase (xkcd). The only exception is where the first letter would be normally capitalized (e.g. titles, beginning of a sentence, etc.); in that case, it should be entirely uppercased (XKCD). Standard capitalization (Xkcd) should not be used, according to Randall.<ref name="aboutpage" />
+The string "xkcd" should always be entirely lowercase (xkcd). The only exception is where the first letter would be normally capitalized (e.g. titles, beginning of a sentence, etc.); in that case, it should be entirely uppercased (XKCD). Standard capitalization (Xkcd) should not be used, [https://xkcd.com/about/ according to Randall].
 </noinclude>There are other theories about what ''xkcd'' might stand for (not verified and probably not true):

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 ''So, I searched though a bunch of names that weren't taken, until I found one that wasn't taken on all the services I wanted.|[[Randall Munroe]]|in a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v{{=}}zJOS0sV2a24#t{{=}}44m31s speech for Google]}}
-According to the [https://xkcd.com/about ''xkcd'' FAQ] and [[Randall Munroe]] himself, the name ''xkcd'' doesn't stand for anything. He [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJOS0sV2a24#t=44m31s says] it originated as a previously unused, unpronounceable, random four-letter string which he used as his username on various internet services.<ref name="aboutpage"/> <noinclude><!-- PAGE TRANSCLUDED IN [[207]], DON'T REMOVE <noinclude> TAGS PLEASE -->See also the comic titled [[207: What xkcd Means]]. {{incomplete|Give some examples where Randall himself used the lowercase, uppercase , and "Xkcd" version.)}}
+According to the [https://xkcd.com/about ''xkcd'' FAQ] and [[Randall Munroe]] himself, the name ''xkcd'' doesn't stand for anything. He [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJOS0sV2a24#t=44m31s says] it originated as a previously unused, unpronounceable, random four-letter string which he used as his username on various internet services.<ref name="aboutpage">https://xkcd.com/about/</ref> <noinclude><!-- PAGE TRANSCLUDED IN [[207]], DON'T REMOVE <noinclude> TAGS PLEASE -->See also the comic titled [[207: What xkcd Means]]. {{incomplete|Give some examples where Randall himself used the lowercase, uppercase , and "Xkcd" version.)}}
-"xkcd" should always be entirely lowercase (xkcd). The only exception is where the first letter would be normally capitalized (e.g. titles, beginning of a sentence, etc.); in that case, it should be entirely uppercased (XKCD). Standard capitalization (Xkcd) should not be used, according to Randall.<ref name="aboutpage">https://xkcd.com/about/</ref>
+"xkcd" should always be entirely lowercase (xkcd). The only exception is where the first letter would be normally capitalized (e.g. titles, beginning of a sentence, etc.); in that case, it should be entirely uppercased (XKCD). Standard capitalization (Xkcd) should not be used, according to Randall.<ref name="aboutpage" />
 </noinclude>There are other theories about what ''xkcd'' might stand for (not verified and probably not true):