Morse Code Translator & Player
Convert text to International Morse code and vice-versa with our easy-to-use online translator. You can also listen to the Morse code signals, copy your results, and use the handy reference chart. Perfect for learning, communication, or just for fun!
View International Morse Code Reference Chart
| Character | Morse | Character | Morse | Character | Morse | Character | Morse |
|---|
Usage Notes: When inputting Morse code for decoding, use dots (.) for dits and hyphens (-) for dahs. Separate individual Morse code letters with a single space, and separate words with a forward slash surrounded by spaces (e.g., / ). The audio playback uses standard Morse timing: a dash is three times the duration of a dot; pause between signals within a letter is one dot duration; pause between letters is three dot durations; pause between words is seven dot durations.
How to Use the Morse Code Translator
- Select Translation Direction: At the top, choose whether you want to convert "Text → Morse" or "Morse → Text". The input and output labels will update accordingly.
- Enter Your Content:
- If translating Text to Morse: Type or paste your plain text into the "Enter Text" area.
- If translating Morse to Text: Type or paste your Morse code into the "Enter Morse Code" area. Use dots (.), hyphens (-), single spaces between letters, and a forward slash surrounded by spaces ( / ) between words.
- Translate: Click the "Translate" button. The converted output will appear in the other text area.
- Play Morse (Optional): If you have Morse code in either the input (for Morse to Text mode) or output (for Text to Morse mode), click the "Play Morse" button to hear the audio signal. The button will be disabled if there's no Morse code to play.
- Copy Output: Click the "Copy Output" button to copy the translated text or Morse code to your clipboard.
- Swap I/O: Click "Swap I/O" to switch the content of the input and output text areas and also toggle the translation direction.
- Clear All: Click "Clear All Fields" to empty both text areas and reset the tool.
- Reference Chart: Expand the "View International Morse Code Reference Chart" section to see the Morse codes for letters, numbers, and common punctuation.
About Morse Code
Morse code is a method used in telecommunication to encode text characters as standardized sequences of two different signal durations, called dots (dits) and dashes (dahs). It was developed by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail in the 1830s and 1840s for use with the electric telegraph.
Key characteristics of Morse code include:
- Elements:
- Dot (·): Short signal.
- Dash (–): Longer signal, typically three times the duration of a dot.
- Timing (approximate relative durations):
- Intra-character space (pause between dots and dashes within a letter): Equal to one dot duration.
- Inter-character space (pause between letters): Equal to three dot durations.
- Word space (pause between words): Equal to seven dot durations.
- International Morse Code: The most widely used standard, covering the Latin alphabet, Arabic numerals, and some punctuation and procedural signals (prosigns).
Morse code played a vital role in early long-distance communication, particularly in maritime and military contexts. While less common for general communication today, it is still used by amateur radio operators, in aviation for navigational beacons, and for assistive technology for people with disabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What characters are supported for translation to Morse code?
This translator supports the standard English alphabet (A-Z), digits (0-9), and a range of common punctuation marks. You can see the full list of supported characters and their Morse codes in the "Morse Code Reference Chart" section on this page. Unsupported characters in your input text will generally be ignored or treated as spaces during conversion.
How do I represent spaces between words when inputting Morse code?
To represent a space between words when inputting Morse code for decoding, use a forward slash (/). It's best to surround it with spaces (e.g., .... . .-.. .-.. --- / .-- --- .-. .-.. -.. for "HELLO WORLD") for clarity and to ensure correct parsing by the tool.
Why doesn't the 'Play Morse' button work sometimes?
The 'Play Morse' button requires valid Morse code to be present in the relevant text area (output if you translated text to Morse, or input if you're in Morse-to-text mode). If the field is empty or contains invalid Morse, the button will be disabled. Additionally, some browsers require user interaction (like clicking a button on the page) before they allow audio to play automatically. The first click on 'Play Morse' or 'Translate' should enable audio for subsequent plays.
Can this tool translate very long messages?
Yes, it can handle reasonably long messages. However, extremely long texts might take a moment to process, and the audio playback for very long Morse code sequences could also be lengthy. There are no strict character limits, but browser performance might be a factor for exceptionally large inputs.