What Is Morse Code?
Morse code is a character encoding system that represents letters, numerals, and punctuation as sequences of short signals (dots •) and long signals (dashes —). Invented in the 1830s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail for use with the electric telegraph, it became the dominant communication method for long-distance messaging for over a century.
International Morse Code (standardized by the ITU) is still used today in amateur radio, aviation, assistive technology, and emergency signaling. The universal distress signal “SOS” (...---...) remains recognizable worldwide.
How to Use This Tool
Enter Your Text
Type directly into the input editor, paste content with Ctrl+V, or upload/drag a .txt file. The tool auto-detects whether you're typing English or Morse code.
See Instant Output
The translated text or Morse code appears in real-time in the right panel. Prosigns like <SOS> and <SK> are automatically recognized.
Play Audio
Click 'Play Morse' to hear the Morse code as audio beeps. Adjust speed (WPM) and frequency (Hz) sliders. Watch the visual flasher blink in sync.
Copy, Download, or Export
Copy the output to clipboard, download as .txt, or export as a .wav audio file. Use Clear to reset everything.
Features Explained
Auto-Detection
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The tool automatically detects whether your input is plain text or Morse code. If the input contains only dots, dashes, spaces, and slashes, it decodes Morse to text. Otherwise, it encodes text to Morse.
Audio Playback with Web Audio API
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Hear your Morse code played as sine-wave beeps directly in the browser using the Web Audio API. Dots are short tones, dashes are three times longer. Proper timing gaps are maintained between symbols, characters, and words per ITU standards.
Speed & Frequency Controls
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Adjust playback speed from 5 to 40 words per minute (WPM). The standard dot duration is 1200ms ÷ WPM. Frequency can be set from 400 Hz to 1000 Hz — the default 600 Hz matches traditional CW practice.
Visual Flasher & Character Highlighting
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A circular light indicator blinks in sync with the audio — yellow for active tones, gray for silence. The current Morse character being played is highlighted in yellow in a live preview below the controls.
Prosigns Support
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Wrap prosigns in angle brackets in your input: <SOS>, <SK>. These are transmitted as single units without inter-character gaps, following international convention. Only non-colliding prosigns are supported to avoid ambiguity with regular punctuation characters.
WAV Audio Export
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Download your Morse code as a standard .wav audio file using the OfflineAudioContext API. The exported file uses the same WPM and frequency settings. No server processing — everything happens in your browser.
File Upload & Drag and Drop
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Upload a .txt file using the Upload button or drag and drop a text file directly onto the input area. The file contents replace the current input text.
Who Is This Tool For?
Ham Radio Operators
Practice sending and receiving CW (Continuous Wave) Morse code at various speeds, with audio playback matching real transmission timing.
Students & Learners
Learn Morse code interactively with audio, visual flasher, and character highlighting. Adjust speed as you improve.
Educators
Teach communication history and encoding concepts with a hands-on tool that brings Morse code to life through sound and light.
Developers
Generate Morse code audio files for apps, games, or projects. Export as WAV with precise timing.
Puzzle Enthusiasts
Decode Morse code clues in puzzles, escape rooms, geocaching challenges, and CTF competitions.
Accessibility Researchers
Explore Morse code as an alternative input method for assistive technology and switch-based communication systems.
Morse Code Reference Chart
| Character | Morse | Character | Morse | Character | Morse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ----- | I | .. | . | .-.-.- |
| 1 | .---- | J | .--- | , | --..-- |
| 2 | ..--- | K | -.- | ? | ..--.. |
| 3 | ...-- | L | .-.. | ' | .----. |
| 4 | ....- | M | -- | ! | -.-.-- |
| 5 | ..... | N | -. | / | -..-. |
| 6 | -.... | O | --- | ( | -.--. |
| 7 | --... | P | .--. | ) | -.--.- |
| 8 | ---.. | Q | --.- | & | .-... |
| 9 | ----. | R | .-. | : | ---... |
| A | .- | S | ... | ; | -.-.-. |
| B | -... | T | - | = | -...- |
| C | -.-. | U | ..- | + | .-.-. |
| D | -.. | V | ...- | - | -....- |
| E | . | W | .-- | _ | ..--.- |
| F | ..-. | X | -..- | " | .-..-. |
| G | --. | Y | -.-- | $ | ...-..- |
| H | .... | Z | --.. | @ | .--.-. |
| Prosign | Morse | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| <SOS> | ...---... | International distress signal |
| <SK> | ...-.- | End of contact |
Tips for Morse Code
Learn by sound, not sight
Experienced operators learn Morse by recognizing the rhythm of each character, not by counting dots and dashes. Use the audio playback to train your ear.
Start slow, then speed up
Begin at 5-10 WPM and gradually increase. The Farnsworth method sends characters at full speed with extra gaps between them — our speed slider helps with this.
Use the NATO phonetic alphabet
When mixing Morse with voice communication, pair it with the phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie) for clarity.
SOS needs no gaps
The SOS prosign is sent as a continuous sequence (···−−−···) without pauses between letters. Type <SOS> in this tool to generate it correctly.
Slash separates words
In written Morse, a forward slash (/) with spaces on both sides separates words. Single spaces separate characters within a word.
Export for projects
Use the Download WAV feature to create Morse audio files for podcasts, games, escape rooms, or educational materials — all generated client-side.
Privacy & Security
This tool runs 100% in your browser. Your text is never uploaded to any server. Audio is generated locally using the Web Audio API and WAV files are encoded entirely client-side.
Your input is stored only in your browser's local storage so it persists when you refresh the page. You can clear it at any time using the “Clear” button. No cookies are used, no analytics track your text content, and no third-party services have access to what you type.