What Does xD Really Mean, and Why Won’t It Go Away?

A sideways laugh, a touch of nostalgia, and a legacy of early internet joy.

Question: What does xD mean? Why do people use it at the end of messages?

“xD” is more than just a couple of random keyboard characters—it’s a relic of early internet culture, a nostalgic echo of the days before emoji took over our expressions. To understand it is to step back into a time where we shaped emotion out of colons and parentheses, where laughter wasn’t a button but a combination of keystrokes that felt just a little more personal.

The “x” represents tightly closed, laughing eyes. The “D” is a wide, open-mouthed grin. Tilt your head sideways, and you’ll see it: a face laughing with eyes squeezed shut in delight. It was shorthand for “I’m cracking up” long before the crying-laughing emoji became the reigning king of digital humor.

People use it—still, even now—for a few reasons.

1. Nostalgia. For many, it calls back to MSN Messenger, AOL chats, or the early days of YouTube comments and gamer forums. It feels retro. Familiar. Almost like writing in cursive when everyone else has gone digital.

2. Personality. Emojis are great, but sometimes they feel too polished. Too universal. “xD” has quirks. It tells people, “I’ve been on the internet long enough to remember Myspace.” It’s the digital equivalent of a mixtape—handmade, unique, and just a little raw.

3. Tone. It softens messages. It turns sarcasm into playfulness. It cushions awkward jokes. It can even express secondhand embarrassment or mock laughter. “Nice haircut… xD” is a world apart from “Nice haircut.” One is teasing. The other might get you blocked.

4. It’s community code. In certain online spaces—particularly gaming, anime, or meme circles—“xD” still lives on like an inside joke among those who grew up in the same chaotic corners of the web.

But here’s the beauty of “xD”: it’s a reminder that even in this hyper-visual age of instant gifs and custom emojis, we still find meaning in the simplest forms. It’s a digital grin. An old friend. A sideways laugh that says, “I don’t take myself too seriously, and neither should you.”