Morse Code Encoder (Text to Morse Code)
Convert alphabet letters, numbers, and punctuation into International Morse Code, with an audio playback feature that beeps out the signal.
Morse Code Reference Table
Letters
| Character | Code |
|---|---|
| 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 | --.. |
Numbers
| Character | Code |
|---|---|
| 0 | ----- |
| 1 | .---- |
| 2 | ..--- |
| 3 | ...-- |
| 4 | ....- |
| 5 | ..... |
| 6 | -.... |
| 7 | --... |
| 8 | ---.. |
| 9 | ----. |
Punctuation
| Character | Code |
|---|---|
| . | .-.-.- |
| , | --..-- |
| ? | ..--.. |
| ' | .----. |
| ! | -.-.-- |
| / | -..-. |
| ( | -.--. |
| ) | -.--.- |
| & | .-... |
| : | ---... |
| ; | -.-.-. |
| = | -...- |
| + | .-.-. |
| - | -....- |
| _ | ..--.- |
| " | .-..-. |
| $ | ...-..- |
| @ | .--.-. |
What Is Morse Code Encoding?
Morse code encoding converts letters, numbers, and punctuation into International Morse Code — a system of short signals (dots) and long signals (dashes). Devised in the 19th century alongside the telegraph, it lets messages travel using nothing more than simple light or sound pulses.
This tool converts your text into Morse code instantly as you type, and can also play the result back as audio using the Web Audio API. Characters outside the reference table are skipped automatically, so only Latin letters, digits, and common punctuation are converted.
How to Use the Morse Code Encoder
- Type your text Enter the words or sentence you want to convert in the input box (e.g. SOS HELLO WORLD).
- Check the result The Morse code appears in the result box in real time as you type.
- Play it as audio Press "Play Audio" to hear the dots and dashes as actual beeps.
- Copy the result Use the "Copy" button to paste the converted code into a note or another app.
Tips for getting more out of it
- Letters within a word are separated by a space, and words are separated by a slash ("/") — a common international convention for written Morse code.
- Characters not in the reference table (such as non-Latin scripts) are skipped automatically; only Latin letters, digits, and common punctuation are supported.
- The "Play Audio" button generates the beeps live using the Web Audio API — dots are short beeps and dashes are three times as long, matching the standard timing ratio.
- Input is case-insensitive: "hello" and "HELLO" produce the exact same Morse code.
- SOS ("... --- ...") is one of the most recognizable Morse patterns and a common starting point for learning the code.
Ways to Use Morse Code Encoding
Ham radio study
Amateur radio license candidates can check the mapping between letters and Morse code while studying or practicing.
Survival and emergency-preparedness knowledge
Useful for learning how a distress signal like SOS can be sent without needing electricity.
Puzzles and cipher games
Great for escape-room style puzzles or riddles that hide a message inside Morse code.
History and telecommunication lessons
A hands-on way for students to experience encoding text while learning about the history of the telegraph.
Morse Code Glossary
- Dot and dash
- The two basic signal units that make up Morse code. A dot is the base unit of length, and a dash lasts three times as long; letters are built from combinations of the two.
- International Morse Code
- The globally standardized version of Morse code, based on the simplified "Continental" code that emerged in 19th-century Europe.
- SOS
- The internationally recognized distress signal, written in Morse as "... --- ...". It is not an acronym — the pattern was chosen for being easy to remember and recognize by ear.
- Telegraph
- A communication method that sends text over a distance using electrical signals. Morse code was originally devised for this purpose in the 19th century.
- Amateur (ham) radio
- Radio communication practiced by individuals as a hobby. Although commercial use of Morse code ended in 1999, it remains an active skill among ham radio operators today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Side Note — The Telegraph Era That Gave Us Morse Code
Morse code was devised in the 1830s by Samuel Morse, an American painter turned inventor, together with his assistant Alfred Vail, as they worked to make the electric telegraph practical. In 1844, the first official Morse-coded telegraph message — "What hath God wrought" — was sent between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, marking a turning point in the history of communication.
Morse's original code (now called American Morse Code) used subtly different spacing for different letters, making it fairly complex. It was later simplified and standardized in Europe, and the resulting "Continental Morse Code," established around 1865, became the basis for the International Morse Code used worldwide today.
By the 20th century, Morse code had become a lifeline of maritime communication. During the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, wireless operators kept sending the CQD and SOS distress signals in Morse code, an event that helped shape later international communication regulations. Commercial use of Morse code ended in 1999, but it lives on as a skill passed down among amateur radio enthusiasts.