Morse Code Translator

What is it?

Morse code is a method of encoding text as a series of on-off signals — traditionally transmitted as electrical pulses, radio waves or flashes of light. Each letter, digit and punctuation mark maps to a unique sequence of short signals (dots, ·) and long signals (dashes, −). The system was developed by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail in the 1830s and became the backbone of global telegraph communication for over a century. Modern Morse code follows the International Morse Code standard (ITU-R M.1677-1), which defines codes for the 26 Latin letters, 10 digits, and a set of punctuation marks. A single space separates letters; three spaces separate words. The ratio of a dash to a dot is 3:1. This free online Morse code translator works in both directions. Type plain text and it converts to dots and dashes in real time; type valid Morse code (using dots, dashes and spaces) and it decodes back to text. An audio playback button lets you hear the code at an adjustable speed — useful for learning, amateur radio practice, or just fun.

How to use it

1. Type or paste your text in the left panel — it converts to Morse code instantly in the right panel.
2. Or type Morse code (dots · and dashes −, letters separated by spaces, words by " / ") in the right panel to decode to text.
3. Click "Play audio" to hear the Morse code at your chosen speed.
4. Drag the speed slider to adjust words per minute (WPM) from 5 to 30.
5. Click "Copy" to copy the result to your clipboard.
6. Use the "Clear" button to reset both panels.
7. Toggle between dots/dashes (·−) and standard notation (.-) with the style switcher.

Why use this tool

Morse code may seem like a relic of the 19th century, but it remains an official mode for amateur radio operations worldwide, a tool for emergency signalling (SOS: ···−−−···), and a surprisingly effective accessibility technology — people with limited mobility can communicate using single-switch Morse input on phones and computers. Beyond practical uses, Morse code is genuinely enjoyable to learn. It is a finite, rule-based system: once you know 26 letters and 10 digits, you can encode and decode anything. The audio playback in this tool accelerates learning by associating each letter's rhythm with its sound — a technique called the Koch method. Our translator handles the complete ITU-R international standard, including punctuation marks that most online tools skip. Everything runs in your browser with zero latency — no server round trips, no typing lag, no data stored.

Frequently asked questions