Morse code

From Canonica AI

Introduction

Morse code is a method used in telecommunication to encode text characters as sequences of two different signal durations, called dots and dashes, or dits and dahs. Morse code is named after Samuel Morse, one of the inventors of the telegraph.

A close-up image of a telegraph key, a device used to transmit Morse code.
A close-up image of a telegraph key, a device used to transmit Morse code.

History

The Morse code was developed in the early 1830s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail for their new invention, the telegraph. The telegraph was a long-distance communication device that sent electrical signals over a wire. The need for a simple, efficient code to transmit messages led to the development of Morse code.

Structure

Morse code represents each letter of the English alphabet, each numeral, and a few punctuation marks as a unique sequence of short and long signals. In Morse code, the short signal is called a "dit" and is represented as a dot. The long signal is called a "dah" and is represented as a dash.

Usage

Morse code was widely used for early radio communication beginning in the 1890s. For the first half of the twentieth century, the majority of high-speed international communication was conducted in Morse code, using telegraph lines, undersea cables, and radio circuits.

Modern Use

While Morse code is no longer in widespread use, knowledge of it is still required by some amateur radio licensing examinations. It is also used by amateur radio operators, pilots, and air traffic controllers.

See Also