What is Morse code?
Morse code is a method of encoding text characters as sequences of two different signal durations, called dots (.) and dashes (-). It was developed in the 1830s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail for use with the electric telegraph. Each letter, digit, and punctuation mark is represented by a unique combination of dots and dashes. A single space separates letters within a word, and a forward slash (/) separates words.
How to use this converter
To convert text to Morse code: type or paste your text in the input box and click "Text → Morse". The output will show dots and dashes for each character, with spaces between letters and slashes between words. To decode Morse back to text: paste your Morse code in the input box and click "Morse → Text". Separate letters with spaces and words with forward slashes (/).
Supported characters
This converter supports all 26 letters of the English alphabet (A–Z), digits 0 through 9, and common punctuation including period, comma, question mark, exclamation mark, slash, parentheses, colon, semicolon, equals, plus, minus, and the at-sign. Unsupported characters are replaced with a question mark.
History and uses of Morse code
Morse code was essential for communication in the 19th and early 20th centuries — used by telegraph operators, ships at sea, and military forces worldwide. The famous "SOS" distress signal (... --- ...) came from Morse code. Though largely replaced by modern communications, Morse code is still used by amateur radio operators and is recognized internationally as an emergency signal. It has also found use in accessibility — some people with motor disabilities use Morse code as an input method for computers.