Morse code converter online: translate text and decode Morse

Convert any text to Morse code, or decode Morse code back to readable text, instantly with ToolHQ's Morse code converter, type your message, hear the audio output, and copy the dot-dash representation.

A Morse code converter is a bidirectional translation tool that maps each letter, number, and punctuation mark to its corresponding Morse code sequence of dots and dashes, and can also decode a Morse string back into the original text.

Morse code was designed to transmit messages efficiently over telegraph lines, using short signals (dots) and long signals (dashes) in sequences that correspond to letters and numbers. More than 170 years after its invention, it remains in use in amateur radio, military communications, and emergency signalling, and it makes for an engaging educational and puzzle tool online.

Key takeaways

• ToolHQ converts text to Morse and Morse back to text in both directions
• Audio playback lets you hear the dot-dash signal as it would sound on radio
• The international standard (ITU-R M.1677-1) defines the dot-dash sequences for every letter
• Converted in your browser, no data is sent anywhere
• SOS (... --- ...) is the most universally recognised Morse sequence in the world

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How Morse code works

Morse code represents each character as a unique combination of dots (short signals) and dashes (long signals). A dot is one unit of time; a dash is three units. Between dots and dashes within a character there is a one-unit gap; between characters there is a three-unit gap; between words there is a seven-unit gap.

The system was developed by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail in the 1830s and 1840s as a way to send messages over electrical telegraph wires. Common letters were assigned short codes (E is just a single dot; T is a single dash) to minimise transmission time, while less frequent letters received longer sequences.

The current international standard, ITU-R M.1677-1, defines the dot-dash sequence for every letter of the Latin alphabet, digits 0-9, and a set of punctuation marks. This is the version used for international communications and the one ToolHQ's converter follows.

According to Wikipedia's article on Morse code, the code is still actively used today by amateur radio operators (ham radio enthusiasts), some military services, aviation navigation aids (NDB beacons), and in accessibility tools for users who communicate using single-switch input.

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Morse code reference table: A-Z and 0-9

Letter	Morse	Letter	Morse
A	.-	N	-.
B	-...	O	---
C	-.-.	P	.--.
D	-..	Q	--.-
E	.	R	.-.
F	..-.	S	...
G	--.	T	-
H	....	U	..-
I	..	V	...-
J	.---	W	.--
K	-.-	X	-..-
L	.-..	Y	-.--
M	--	Z	--..

Digit	Morse
0	-----
1	.----
2	..---
3	...--
4	....-
5	.....
6	-....
7	--...
8	---..
9	----.

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When you need a Morse code converter

Amateur radio (ham radio). Morse code proficiency was once required for amateur radio licences. While many countries have dropped the requirement, Continuous Wave (CW) Morse operation remains popular among ham radio enthusiasts for its long-range transmission capability under poor conditions.

Learning and education. Scouts, military cadets, and history students learn Morse code as part of their training. An online converter speeds up the learning process by letting you check your encoding against the correct output and hear how each letter sounds.

Emergency preparedness. SOS (... --- ...) is recognised internationally as a distress signal. Knowing Morse code, even just this sequence, is a useful emergency skill. A converter helps you memorise the pattern by seeing and hearing it.

Puzzles, games, and escape rooms. Morse code appears frequently in escape room puzzles, video game Easter eggs, and cryptography challenges. A converter decodes the sequence in seconds.

Creative and novelty uses. Morse code jewellery, tattoos, and art encode personal messages in a form that only those who know Morse (or have a converter) can read.

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Mini-story: A game designer was building an escape room with a radio-themed puzzle. Players had to decode a Morse code message played over a speaker to find the next clue. She used a Morse code converter to encode her clue text, then listened to the audio output to confirm the timing felt right before finalising the recording. The puzzle became one of the room's most memorable challenges.

Try ToolHQ's Morse code converter

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How to use the Morse code converter

1. Choose your direction. Select "Text to Morse" to encode a message, or "Morse to Text" to decode a dot-dash sequence.
2. Enter your input. For text-to-Morse, type or paste your message in plain text. For Morse-to-text, enter the dot-dash string using . for dots, - for dashes, spaces between letters, and / or double spaces between words.
3. View the output. The converted result appears immediately, the dot-dash representation for text input, or the decoded words for Morse input.
4. Play the audio. Click the play button to hear the Morse code as audio tones, matching the timing of a real radio transmission.
5. Copy your result. Use the copy button to take the output text or Morse string to your clipboard.

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Mini-story: A scout troop leader wanted to teach her group Morse code basics before a communications badge activity. She set up ToolHQ's converter on a tablet, typed common words, and played the audio so the scouts could hear each letter's sound. Within twenty minutes, several of them could recognise SOS and their own initials by ear, a level of engagement that a printed chart alone had never achieved.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between dots and dashes? A dot is a short signal (one unit) and a dash is a long signal (three units). The gap between elements of one letter is one unit; between letters, three units; between words, seven units. This timing is what makes audio Morse sound rhythmic.

Can I decode any Morse code with this tool? The tool supports the full International Morse code alphabet (ITU-R M.1677-1), covering A-Z, 0-9, and common punctuation. Prosigns and non-Latin alphabets require specialist tools.

Is Morse code still used today? Yes. Amateur radio operators actively use CW Morse. Aviation NDB beacons still broadcast station identifiers in Morse. Some accessibility devices use Morse as a single-switch input method for people with limited mobility.

How do I type Morse code as input? Use . (period) for dots, - (hyphen) for dashes. Separate letters with a single space and words with a forward slash / or two spaces.

Is my text stored or sent anywhere? No. Converted in your browser, no data is sent anywhere. All processing happens locally on your device.

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The short version

Morse code converts each letter to a unique dot-dash sequence designed for efficient transmission. A = .-, E = ., SOS = ... --- ... Modern converters add audio playback so you can hear the signal as well as read it, useful for learning, puzzles, amateur radio, and emergency preparedness.

Convert text to Morse code now at ToolHQ, bidirectional, audio playback included, no account needed.

For related tools, try text to binary for binary encoding, or text case converter for simple text formatting.