tomtestørrelse

Tomtestørrelse is a Danish term used in some design, publishing, and software testing contexts to describe the size of an empty or placeholder element. It refers to reserving space in a layout or document when content is not yet available, or when evaluating the effect of whitespace on alignment and rhythm. The concept is not a formal unit of measurement and its exact value is defined by project guidelines rather than by a standardized standard.

Etymology and usage

The word combines tom, meaning empty, with størrelse, meaning size. In practice, tomtestørrelse appears in design briefs, user interface planning, and typesetting discussions as a way to specify how much space an empty block, margin, or spacer should occupy. In web design, for example, a placeholder box with a defined width or height can represent the intended space that real content will later fill.

Contexts

In publishing and printing, tomtestørrelse helps planners set margins, gutters, and line spacing to maintain visual balance during layout development. In UI/UX design, it supports layout testing by simulating space that content may later use, aiding in alignment and responsiveness. In software testing, it can be employed to assess rendering behavior when placeholders are present.

Standards and limitations

Tomtestørrelse is not a standardized measurement and its usage varies between organizations, projects, and languages. Because it is informal, teams typically document the intended size within their own design systems or briefs to avoid ambiguity.

See also

Whitespace, placeholder, dummy content, layout grid, typographic rhythm.