Morse Code Converter
Bidirectional text ↔ Morse code conversion in your browser.
What it's for
Text to Morse code and back
ITU-R standard
Implements the standard International Morse Code (ITU-R M.1677), compatible with amateur radio and aviation.
100% private
Conversion happens entirely in your browser. No data is transmitted to external servers.
Full coverage
Supports A-Z, 0-9, and common punctuation. Words are separated with / per the textual standard.
Instant
Morse code or text appears as you type. No latency or waiting times.
How it works
Three steps, no hassle
Choose conversion direction
Select whether you want to convert from text to Morse code or from Morse code to text using the mode selector.
Enter your content
Type or paste your text (or Morse code with dots and dashes). The result appears instantly in the output panel.
Copy or use the result
Copy the Morse code or decoded text to clipboard with one click. Words are separated with /.
FAQ
Got questions?
Morse code is an encoding system that represents letters, numbers, and punctuation marks through sequences of short signals (dots, .) and long signals (dashes, -). It was developed by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail around 1837 for use with the electric telegraph. Each character has a unique combination of dots and dashes.
Yes. Amateur radio operators (ham radio) continue using Morse code for long-distance communications, especially in weak signal conditions where Morse outperforms voice. In aviation, VOR and NDB navigation beacons transmit their identification in Morse. The international distress signal SOS (··· --- ···) remains universally recognized.
In standard Morse code, characters within a word are separated by a short pause, and words from each other by a longer pause (conventionally represented as / in text). This tool uses / to separate words, which is the standard textual representation of Morse.
All letters of the Latin alphabet (A-Z, case insensitive), digits 0-9, and the most common punctuation marks are supported: period (.-.-.-), comma (--..--), question mark (..--..), exclamation mark (-.-.--), parentheses (-.--.,-), hyphen (-....-), and at sign (.--.-.). Unsupported characters are omitted from the output.
International Morse Code (also called Continental Morse or ITU Morse) is the current standard defined by the ITU-R. The original American Morse Code was different: it used variable-length signals and some distinct characters, and was replaced by the International code. This tool implements the standard International Morse Code per ITU-R M.1677.
Morse code: history, ITU-R standard, and modern uses
Morse code was developed by Samuel Morse and his collaborator Alfred Vail between 1836 and 1837 in the context of inventing the electric telegraph. The first long-distance telegraph message was sent in 1844 between Washington D.C. and Baltimore. Morse's original code differed from the current international version; the Continental code was developed in Europe in 1851 and adopted internationally, becoming the modern standard.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R) codified International Morse Code in recommendation ITU-R M.1677-1, which defines the relative timing between dots, dashes, and pauses. The SOS signal (··· --- ···) was adopted at the International Wireless Telegraph Convention in Berlin in 1906 as a universal distress signal, chosen for its simplicity and distinctiveness. In 1999, the GMDSS system replaced Morse as the mandatory system in maritime communications, though it remains valid and popular in amateur radio.
In the digital age, Morse code has found new niches: it is studied in programming as a classic example of variable-length encoding (the Morse binary tree is a decision tree), used in programming competitions, and applied in accessibility interfaces for people with limited mobility who can communicate through just two signals (short/long). Morse learning applications have experienced a resurgence among radio enthusiasts and telecommunications history hobbyists.