Morse Code Translator

What is Morse Code?

Morse code is a method of transmitting text information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment. It is named after Samuel Morse, an inventor of the telegraph.

Each character (letter, number, or punctuation mark) is represented by a unique sequence of dots and dashes. The duration of a dash is three times the duration of a dot. Each dot or dash is followed by a short silence, equal to the dot duration.

The Building Blocks

• Dot (Dit): The basic unit of time.
• Dash (Dah): Three times the duration of a dot.
• Intra-character gap: The space between dots and dashes within a character (one dot duration).
• Inter-character gap: The space between letters (three dot durations).
• Word gap: The space between words (seven dot durations).

This system of communication was vital for early long-distance communication, especially in maritime and aviation contexts. While less common today, it is still used by amateur radio enthusiasts and for emergency signals.