Little is documented about the original recording behind the Tomas laugh, so its history is mainly an online one. Short laugh clips named after a person spread through soundboards, messaging apps and short video edits, where a recognisable burst of laughter works as shorthand for amusement. The three second length helped it travel, fitting neatly into reaction videos, gaming montages and meme compilations without needing context. It remains in use because it conveys a clear, friendly reaction instantly and can be reused across many different jokes and situations.