CodeKitHubWhat Is This Tool?
Morse code represents each letter, digit and common punctuation mark as a sequence of dots (short signals) and dashes (long signals), separated by spaces between letters and a slash between words. It was designed for telegraph transmission, where only "signal" or "no signal" could be sent, and later became standard for radio operators, amateur (ham) radio, and maritime/aviation distress signals (SOS is the most widely recognized sequence: ... --- ...).
This translator converts in both directions at once — type text and see the Morse code, or type Morse code (space between letters, slash between words) and see the decoded text — with international Morse standard mappings for the 26 Latin letters, digits 0–9, and common punctuation.
Why Use It?
- Bidirectional and live — type in either box, the other updates instantly, no button to press.
- Covers letters, numbers, and common punctuation (periods, commas, question marks and more), not just the alphabet.
- Play button sounds out the Morse code as audio beeps at standard dot/dash timing.
- Copy either the text or the Morse code with one click.
- Free, private — everything runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
How to Use
- Type text in the top box — the Morse code appears in the bottom box automatically.
- Or type Morse code in the bottom box (space between letters, slash between words) — the decoded text appears on top.
- Click "Play sound" to hear the Morse code as audio beeps.
- Click "Copy" next to either box to copy that result.
Example
Input
SOSOutput
... --- ...The most recognized Morse sequence in the world — three dots, three dashes, three dots, with no letter gaps within each group.
Common use cases
- Decoding a Morse code message found in a puzzle, game, or escape room clue.
- Learning or practicing Morse code for an amateur (ham) radio license exam.
- Encoding a short message into Morse code for a novelty gift, tattoo, or piece of jewelry.
- Checking your own hand-sent or hand-decoded Morse code against a reliable reference.
International Morse code reference
| Character | Morse | Character | Morse |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | .- | N | -. |
| B | -... | O | --- |
| C | -.-. | P | .--. |
| D | -.. | Q | --.- |
| E | . | R | .-. |
| F | ..-. | S | ... |
| G | --. | T | - |
| H | .... | U | ..- |
| I | .. | V | ...- |
| J | .--- | W | .-- |
| K | -.- | X | -..- |
| L | .-.. | Y | -.-- |
| M | -- | Z | --.. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I translate Morse code to English?
Type or paste the Morse code into the Morse code box, with a single space between each letter's dots/dashes and a forward slash (/) between words. The text box above updates automatically with the decoded English text.
What's the difference between a dot and a dash in timing?
A dash is exactly three times the length of a dot. The gap between dots/dashes within one letter is one dot-length, the gap between letters is three dot-lengths, and the gap between words is seven dot-lengths — this timing is what the "Play sound" button reproduces.
Why does SOS translate to ... --- ... exactly?
S is three dots (...) and O is three dashes (---), so SOS becomes ... --- ... — chosen historically because it's simple, unmistakable, and easy to transmit even by an inexperienced operator under pressure, which is why it became the international distress signal.
Does this handle numbers and punctuation, not just letters?
Yes — digits 0–9 and common punctuation (period, comma, question mark, apostrophe, exclamation mark, parentheses, colon, semicolon, hyphen, and more) are all included using the standard international Morse code mapping.
Can I hear the Morse code, not just read it?
Yes — click "Play sound" and the tool plays the current Morse code as audio beeps using your browser's Web Audio API, timed to standard Morse conventions (dash = 3× dot length).
Is my text or Morse code uploaded anywhere?
No. Both directions of translation, and the audio playback, run entirely in your browser using JavaScript and the Web Audio API — nothing is sent to a server.