What is Morse Code?
Morse code is an encoding system that represents letters and numbers as combinations of short (dot) and long (dash) signals. Developed in the 1840s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail, it formed the foundation of telegraph communication.
International Morse Code (ITU)
The current standard is International Morse Code as defined by the ITU. It covers all Latin letters A–Z, digits 0–9, and common punctuation marks.
Timing Rules
- Dot (·): 1 unit
- Dash (−): 3 units
- Gap between symbols: 1 unit
- Gap between letters: 3 units
- Gap between words: 7 units
SOS — The Universal Distress Signal
SOS (... --- ...) has been the international distress call since 1908. It is not an abbreviation but a symbol sequence chosen for its simplicity and distinctiveness. It remains valid in maritime and aviation today.
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