A string of random characters is genuinely secure but nearly impossible to memorize — a passphrase built from several random common words offers a different, often more usable, path to the same strong security. This tool generates one instantly.
A method popularized by a webcomic, grounded in real cryptographic math
The "correct horse battery staple" approach to password creation was popularized by Randall Munroe's webcomic xkcd in a widely shared 2011 strip, which illustrated a genuinely important cryptographic point: a passphrase built from several random, unrelated common words can have comparable or even greater entropy (mathematical unpredictability) than a shorter string of random characters with mixed case, numbers and symbols, while being considerably easier for a human to actually memorize and type reliably. The technique draws on the earlier, more formally established Diceware method, created by Arnold Reinhold in 1995, which used actual physical dice rolls to select words from a fixed word list, ensuring genuine, verifiable randomness rather than a human's flawed attempt at "sounding random."
How this tool generates a passphrase
The tool uses cryptographically secure random selection to choose several words independently from a large word list, then combines them (often with a separator character or number for additional entropy) into a single passphrase — the genuine randomness of the word selection process, not any cleverness in which specific words happen to be chosen, is what provides the real security strength.
Where a passphrase is genuinely a good choice
- A master password for a password manager — since this is a password you'll need to actually type and remember yourself (unlike the many other passwords a manager stores and auto-fills for you), a memorable-but-random passphrase is a genuinely practical choice for this specific, high-stakes use case.
- Device or disk encryption passwords — passwords you'll need to type manually and repeatedly, where a memorable passphrase offers real usability benefits over a string of random symbols.
- Wi-Fi network passwords — a passphrase is often easier to communicate verbally or type on devices with limited keyboards (like some smart home devices) compared to a fully random character string.
- Any account requiring genuinely memorable, typeable security — situations where relying entirely on a password manager's autofill isn't practical or available.
Frequently asked questions
Is a passphrase actually as secure as a random character password? It depends on the specific parameters — a passphrase's security comes from the total number of possible word combinations (which depends on the word list size and number of words chosen), and a sufficiently long passphrase drawn from a large word list using genuine random selection can match or exceed the security of a considerably shorter random-character password, while remaining much easier to memorize accurately.
Why does the specific selection method (dice rolls, cryptographic randomness) matter so much? Because the entire security benefit of a passphrase depends on genuine, verifiable randomness in word selection — a human simply picking four words that "feel random" reliably introduces detectable, guessable patterns, exactly the same problem as human-invented character passwords, which is why a properly random generation method is essential rather than optional.
How many words should a secure passphrase include? More words meaningfully increase security, since each additional random word multiplies the total number of possible combinations — four or more words randomly selected from a sufficiently large word list is a commonly cited baseline for strong practical security, though the right number depends on the specific word list size and how sensitive the protected account or data actually is.
Further reading
Wikipedia — Diceware — The original 1995 method for generating passphrases using verifiable dice-roll randomness.
xkcd — Password Strength — The widely shared comic that popularized the multi-word passphrase concept for a general audience.