Morse Code Translator
What is Morse Code?
Morse code is a method of encoding text characters as sequences of dots (·) and dashes (−), or dit and dah. Developed by Samuel Morse in the 1830s for use with the telegraph, it became one of the most important communication systems of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it's still used in aviation, amateur radio, and as an accessibility technology.
How to Use This Translator
- Enter Text: Type plain text to convert to Morse code, or Morse code to convert to text
- Select Mode: Choose whether to encode (text to Morse) or decode (Morse to text)
- Translate: Click the translate button to see the result
- Copy Result: Use the copy button to copy the translated text
Morse Code Format
- Dot (·): Short signal, represented as a period or dot
- Dash (−): Long signal (3x length of dot), represented as a hyphen
- Space: Separates individual letters
- Forward Slash (/): Separates words
Translation Examples
Example 1: SOS (International Distress Signal)
Text: SOS
Morse: ... --- ...
Example 2: Hello World
Text: HELLO WORLD
Morse: .... . .-.. .-.. --- / .-- --- .-. .-.. -..
Example 3: Numbers
Text: 123
Morse: .---- ..--- ...--
Example 4: Complete Sentence
Text: HELLO
Morse: .... . .-.. .-.. ---
Morse Code Reference Chart
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: --..
0: -----
1: .----
2: ..---
3: ...--
4: ....-
5: .....
6: -....
7: --...
8: ---..
9: ----.
Common Use Cases
- Amateur Radio: Ham radio operators communicate using Morse code (CW mode)
- Aviation: Used for navigation beacon identification
- Emergency Signaling: Send SOS and distress signals
- Accessibility: Communication tool for people with disabilities
- Learning Tool: Educational resource for teaching encoding and communication
- Secret Messages: Fun way to send encoded messages to friends
- Military & Maritime: Historical and sometimes current use in defense and shipping
Learning Morse Code
Tips for Beginners:
- Start with the most common letters: E, T, I, A, N, M, S
- Learn the rhythm: dit-dah instead of dot-dash
- Practice with the "Koch Method" - start with 2 characters and add more gradually
- Use mnemonics: "SOS" = "... --- ..." sounds like "di-di-dit dah-dah-dah di-di-dit"
- Practice daily for 10-15 minutes for best results
Famous Morse Code Signals
SOS: ... --- ... (International distress signal)
CQ: -.-. --.- (General call to all stations)
73: --... ...-- (Best regards in amateur radio)
88: ---.. ---.. (Love and kisses in amateur radio)
Historical Facts
- Invented by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail in the 1830s-1840s
- Used to send the first telegraph message in 1844: "What hath God wrought"
- Was the primary means of long-distance communication for over 100 years
- Still required knowledge for commercial radio operators until 1999
- The Titanic sent SOS signals in Morse code during its sinking in 1912
Related Tools
- Caesar Cipher - Encode text with rotation ciphers
- ASCII Art Generator - Create text art
- Base64 Encoder - Encode data in Base64
- Escape Sequence Converter - Convert escape formats
- Text Analyzer - Analyze text properties