Morse Code

communication · history · signals

Dots and dashes. Morse code uses just two signals to represent every letter and number: short signals called dots (or dits) and long signals called dashes (or dahs). By combining them in different patterns, you can spell out any message.

Named after Samuel Morse. The code got its name from Samuel Morse, who helped develop the telegraph system that used it. But actually, an engineer named Alfred Vail created most of the alphabet code we use today.

Different versions worldwide. A German named Friedrich Gerke simplified the code to make it work better in Europe. His version became the standard that most countries around the world adopted.

Text through signals. Any message can be turned into a series of short and long signals, which means you could send information over a wire, radio wave, or even by blinking a light.