Morse Code Translator

Convert plain text into International (ITU) Morse code, or decode Morse dots and dashes back into readable text. Type on either side and the other updates instantly. Letters are separated by spaces and words by a slash, the standard written-Morse convention, and decoding accepts either a slash or a wide gap between words.

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Translate text to Morse code or decode Morse back to text. Edit either side and the other updates as you type. Letters are spaced apart and words are split by a slash (/).

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Morse code

What is Morse code?

Morse code represents letters, digits, and punctuation as short signals (dots) and long signals (dashes). It was built for telegraphy in the 1840s and is still used today in aviation and marine radio, amateur radio, and as a fallback when voice isn't an option. The international standard, ITU Morse, is what this tool uses. The most famous sequence is SOS: ... --- ...

How to use this tool

Type or paste text on the left to translate it into Morse, or paste dots and dashes on the right to decode them. Both sides stay in sync as you type. Inside a word, leave a single space between each letter's code. Between words, use a slash (with spaces around it) or a wide gap. Characters that don't have a Morse equivalent are dropped on encode, and unknown codes show as a question mark on decode.

Reading and writing Morse

A dot is one unit of time and a dash is three. The gap between symbols in a letter is one unit, between letters three units, and between words seven. In written Morse you can't show timing, so the convention is a space between letters and a slash between words. That's the format this translator produces, which copies cleanly into notes, messages, or flash-card decks for learning the code.