Morse Code Translator — Text to Morse and Back
Enter plain text to encode it as Morse code (dots and dashes), or paste Morse code to decode it back to text. All 26 letters, 10 digits, and common punctuation marks are supported. Words are separated by / in Morse code mode.
How it works
A brief history of Morse code
Morse code was developed in the 1830s and 1840s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail for use with the electric telegraph. The original system was designed to encode the English alphabet and digits as sequences of dots and dashes (short and long signals) transmitted over telegraph wires. The International Morse Code, also known as Continental Morse Code, was standardized in 1865 at the International Telegraphy Congress in Paris and is the version still used today.
Morse code was the dominant long-distance communication technology for nearly a century, used extensively in maritime communication, military operations, and commercial telegraphy. The distress signal SOS (... --- ...) became internationally recognized in 1908 — the three dots, three dashes, and three dots were chosen not for their initials but because the pattern was easy to recognize in any language. Modern radio amateurs (ham radio operators) still use Morse code, and it remains useful in low-bandwidth or noisy channel situations where voice communication fails.
How Morse code works
Morse code uses two signal elements: a short mark (dot, ·) and a long mark (dash, —), where a dash is three times the duration of a dot. Between elements within a character there is a short gap equal to one dot duration. Between letters there is a medium gap of three dot durations. Between words there is a long gap of seven dot durations. In written Morse code, dots and dashes are written with a single space between letters and three spaces (or /) between words.
The letters most frequently used in English are assigned the shortest codes: E is a single dot (·), T is a single dash (—), A is dot-dash (·—), and N is dash-dot (—·). Less common letters like Q (——·—) or Z (——··) have longer codes. This frequency-based design minimizes transmission time for typical English text, a principle also used in Huffman coding in modern data compression.
Morse code today: amateur radio and accessibility
While commercial Morse code transmission largely ended by the 1990s, amateur (ham) radio operators worldwide still use it. Many countries require a Morse code proficiency test for certain ham radio license classes. Speed is measured in words per minute (WPM), with the standard test word being PARIS (·— ·—·· ·—· ·· ··· = 50 elements). Casual operators work at 5–10 WPM; contest operators may exceed 35 WPM.
Morse code has a lesser-known role in accessibility technology. Because it requires only a single switch or input signal (on/off), Morse code can be used as an input method for people with severe motor disabilities who cannot use a standard keyboard or touch interface. Google's Gboard keyboard includes a Morse code input mode that translates dot-dash inputs from a switch device into text, making smartphones accessible to users with conditions like ALS or cerebral palsy.
Frequently asked questions
›What does SOS mean in Morse code?
SOS is ... --- ... (three dots, three dashes, three dots). It was chosen as a distress signal in 1908 not because of the letters S, O, S but because the pattern is easy to recognize and impossible to confuse with other signals. The continuous sequence without gaps was designed to stand out even in noisy conditions.
›How do you separate words in Morse code?
In transmitted Morse code, words are separated by a gap seven dot-lengths long. In written or text representations, words are typically separated by three spaces or by a forward slash (/). Letters within a word are separated by a single space.
›What is Morse code for the alphabet?
A=·—, B=—···, C=—·—·, D=—··, E=·, F=··—·, G=——·, H=····, I=··, J=·———, K=—·—, L=·—··, M=——, N=—·, O=———, P=·——·, Q=——·—, R=·—·, S=···, T=—, U=··—, V=···—, W=·——, X=—··—, Y=—·——, Z=——··.
›What speed is Morse code measured in?
Morse code speed is measured in words per minute (WPM), using the standard test word PARIS (which has 50 elements including gaps). Beginners typically operate at 5 WPM; experienced operators communicate at 15–25 WPM; contest-grade operators may exceed 35 WPM. Text messages sent at 60 WPM were possible with experienced telegraphers.
›Is Morse code still used today?
Yes. Amateur (ham) radio operators worldwide still use Morse code. It is valued in emergency communications because it requires minimal bandwidth, works in high-noise conditions where voice fails, and can be produced with improvised equipment. The U.S. and many countries no longer require Morse code for all ham radio licenses, but dedicated enthusiasts keep the tradition alive.
›Can Morse code be used for accessibility?
Yes. Google Gboard offers a Morse code keyboard mode that accepts dot/dash inputs from a switch device and converts them to text. This makes smartphones accessible to people who cannot use a standard keyboard due to motor disabilities. Users can communicate at 10–20 WPM once proficient, which is sufficient for messaging and web browsing.
›What characters does Morse code support?
International Morse Code covers all 26 Latin letters (A–Z), digits 0–9, and common punctuation including period, comma, question mark, apostrophe, exclamation mark, slash, parentheses, ampersand, colon, semicolon, equals, plus, hyphen, underscore, quotation mark, dollar sign, and at sign. Non-Latin scripts (Chinese, Arabic, Japanese) have separate prosign systems.
›Why is E just a single dot and T just a single dash?
E and T are the most common letters in English, so they were assigned the shortest codes (one element each) to minimize transmission time. The next most common letters (A, I, M, N) were given two-element codes. This frequency-based design follows the same principle as Huffman coding in data compression — shorter codes for more common symbols.
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