Morse Code Translator

What is Morse code?

Morse code is a communication system developed in the 1830s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail for the telegraph. It represents each letter and digit as a sequence of dots (short signals) and dashes (long signals). It became the dominant long-distance communication method before the telephone. SOS (··· --- ···) became the universal distress signal because it was easy to recognise. Morse code is still used in aviation, amateur radio, and military communication.

How do you read Morse code?

Each letter is a unique combination of dots (·) and dashes (−). A dot is a short signal (1 unit). A dash is a long signal (3 units). The space between elements of one letter is 1 unit. Space between letters is 3 units. Space between words is 7 units. The most recognisable: SOS = ···−−−··· (three dots, three dashes, three dots). E = · (single dot) is the most common letter, and T = − (single dash) is the second most common, reflecting English letter frequency.

Is Morse code still used today?

Yes. Amateur (ham) radio operators still use Morse code, and it remains a licensed radio mode. Military forces still train with it. It's used in aviation — airport beacons broadcast their identifiers in Morse code. Medically, people with locked-in syndrome (unable to move or speak) have communicated using Morse code through eye blinks. The international distress signal SOS remains effective because it works in any medium: radio, light, sound, or physical signals.