Morse Code Translator
Morse code is a method of encoding text into sequences of dots and dashes, developed in the 1830s for telegraph communication and still used today in aviation, maritime, amateur radio, and emergency services. International Morse Code represents letters A-Z, digits 0-9, and common punctuation with unique patterns of dots (.) and dashes (-). The code is elegant and efficient, allowing reliable communication over simple channels like radio waves or light signals. In Morse code, a dot is a short signal and a dash is a long signal, with spaces between characters and longer pauses between words. The famous distress signal 'SOS' is dot-dot-dot dash-dash-dash dot-dot-dot. This translator converts freely between text and Morse code in both directions. Enter text in one field and get the Morse equivalent instantly, or paste Morse code and translate it back to text. The translator handles letters, digits, and common punctuation, with spaces and word separators recognized automatically.
Morse code reference
| Character | Morse | Character | Morse | Character | Morse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | .- | J | .--- | S | ... |
| B | -... | K | -.- | T | - |
| C | -.-. | L | .-.. | U | ..- |
| D | -.. | M | -- | V | ...- |
| E | . | N | -. | W | .-- |
| F | ..-.) | O | --- | X | -..- |
| G | --. | P | .--. | Y | -.-- |
| H | .... | Q | --.- | Z | --.. |
| I | .. | R | .-. |
Digits
| Digit | Morse | Digit | Morse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ----- | 5 | ..... |
| 1 | .---- | 6 | -... |
| 2 | ..--- | 7 | --... |
| 3 | ...-- | 8 | ---.. |
| 4 | ....- | 9 | ----. |
Morse code translator: frequently asked questions
What is Morse code?
Morse code is a method of encoding text into sequences of dots (short signals) and dashes (long signals), separated by spaces. Dots are represented as periods (.) and dashes as hyphens (-). It was developed in the 1830s for electric telegraph communication and is still used today in aviation, maritime communication, and amateur radio (ham radio).
What is International Morse Code?
International Morse Code (also called Continental Morse Code) is the modern standard used for wireless communication. It includes letters A-Z, digits 0-9, and common punctuation. Each character has a unique pattern of dots and dashes. There is also American Morse Code (railroad morse), which differs slightly but is rarely used today.
What does a dash and dot represent in Morse code?
In Morse code, a dot represents a short signal (about 1 unit of time) and a dash represents a long signal (about 3 units of time). Characters are separated by short pauses (spaces), and words are separated by longer pauses (forward slashes).
Who uses Morse code today?
Morse code is used primarily by amateur radio operators (ham radio), aviation, maritime and emergency services. It is still used because it is simple, reliable, and can be transmitted with minimal equipment. It is also used as a backup communication method when other systems fail.
What is the most common Morse code signal?
The international distress signal is 'SOS', which is dot-dot-dot dash-dash-dash dot-dot-dot (... --- ...). It is commonly used by aircraft and ships in danger. Morse code is still used in maritime distress situations as a backup.
Official sources
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.