Morse Code Converter

This Morse Code Converter encodes text to Morse code and decodes Morse back to text in real time as you type. It supports all standard letters, digits 0–9, and common punctuation. An audio playback engine generates the actual Morse sound signal in your browser at any speed from 5 to 35 WPM, and a character-by-character breakdown shows the code for every letter.

• ›Real-time conversion: output updates instantly as you type, no need to click a button.
• ›Audio playback: hear the Morse code at your chosen speed (5–35 WPM) using the Web Audio API, directly in the browser with no download required.
• ›Speed control: slider sets words per minute (WPM). Standard amateur radio speed is 13–25 WPM; beginners start at 5–10 WPM.
• ›Character breakdown: every character is shown with its Morse pattern for easy learning and verification.
• ›Swap direction: one-click button to swap text and Morse fields for quick round-trip testing.

History of Morse Code

Morse code was developed by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail in the 1830s and 1840s for use with the electric telegraph. The original American Morse Code was designed for landline telegraphs; International Morse Code (also called Continental Morse Code) was standardised in 1865 and adopted worldwide, including by maritime radio operators.

International Morse Code replaced American Morse after World War II for maritime and aeronautical communication. It is still used today by amateur (ham) radio operators worldwide, in aviation (navigational beacon identifiers), and for accessibility applications. The ITU standard (M.1677) defines the current International Morse Code used in this converter.

• ›Morse was used for transatlantic telegrams, ship-to-shore communication, and World War I/II military signals.
• ›The distress signal SOS (· · · − − − · · ·) was adopted by the 1906 Berlin Radiotelegraph Convention.
• ›Maritime vessels were required to maintain a Morse code watch until 1999, when GMDSS (digital) replaced it.
• ›Amateur radio operators still use Morse code (CW, continuous wave) on HF bands worldwide.

Timing and Speed in Morse Code

Morse code timing is defined relative to one dot duration (one "dit"). All other durations are multiples: a dash (dah) lasts 3 dots; the gap between symbols within a letter is 1 dot; between letters is 3 dots; between words is 7 dots. Speed is measured in words per minute (WPM), where the reference word "PARIS" (· − · · · · · · · · − − − · − − − ·) takes 50 timing units at standard spacing.

At 20 WPM, one dot lasts about 60 ms. At 5 WPM (beginner speed), a dot is 240 ms. Experienced operators can comfortably decode 20–30 WPM by sound alone. The world speed record is over 75 WPM.

• ›Dot duration (ms) = 1200 / WPM
• ›Dash duration = 3 × dot duration
• ›Inter-symbol gap = 1 × dot duration
• ›Inter-letter gap = 3 × dot duration
• ›Inter-word gap = 7 × dot duration

Morse Code in Modern Accessibility

Morse code has found new life as an accessibility tool. Google added Morse code as a keyboard input method for Android and Gboard, allowing users with motor impairments to type using just two inputs (dot and dash). The iOS and Android accessibility frameworks support single-switch scanning where Morse patterns enable full keyboard input with minimal physical movement.

• ›Gboard Morse keyboard: type Morse using two large buttons or sip/puff switch input.
• ›Eye-tracking systems can send Morse code using blinks (dot) and stares (dash).
• ›Stephen Hawking's communication device used a similar binary encoding principle.
• ›Locked-in syndrome patients have used Morse blinking to communicate.

Complete Morse Code Reference

This converter supports all 26 letters (A–Z), digits 0–9, and common punctuation including period, comma, question mark, exclamation mark, slash, hyphen, parentheses, apostrophe, quotation mark, at sign, equals, plus, ampersand, semicolon, and colon, matching the ITU M.1677 standard.