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morse-code

A Morse code translator converts plain text to dots-and-dashes Morse and back, plays the encoded sequence as audio at a chosen words-per-minute rate, and supports both International Morse (the modern global standard) and the older American Morse used by 19th-century US telegraph operators. The ZTools Morse Code Translator runs entirely in the browser, lets you tune dot-duration, dash-ratio, inter-character gap, and inter-word gap, supports flashlight-style visual playback, and decodes audio-paste input by detecting on/off transitions — useful for learning Morse, decoding faint signals, hobby radio operation, and educational demos.

Use cases​

Learning Morse for amateur radio​

Hams preparing for a CW (continuous-wave) license practice with the translator at progressively higher WPM until 13–20 WPM feels natural.

Encoding short messages for fun​

Birthday cards / escape-room puzzles include a Morse line. Encode the surprise message; decode in the browser to verify before printing.

Educational demos​

A history teacher demonstrates 19th-century telegraph to students. Audio playback makes the dots and dashes audible — far more memorable than a static chart.

Decoding audio recordings​

Old archive recording of Morse traffic. Paste audio file (or play through mic), the decoder timing-snaps on/off transitions and emits the text.

How it works​

  1. Pick direction — Text → Morse, or Morse → Text. Auto-detect tries to guess based on input characters.
  2. Choose Morse variant — International Morse (default, used worldwide) or American Morse (legacy, for historical decoding).
  3. Set timing — WPM, dot length, dash-to-dot ratio (standard 3:1), character gap (3 units), word gap (7 units).
  4. Play or copy — Audio playback at chosen pitch (default 700 Hz). Visual flash mode for flashlight signalling. Copy the encoded text.
  5. Decode audio — Paste an audio clip or use the microphone. The decoder timing-snaps and produces text.

Examples​

Input: SOS

Output: ... --- ... (3 dots, 3 dashes, 3 dots; the universal distress signal)

Input: HELLO WORLD

Output: .... . .-.. .-.. --- .-- --- .-. .-.. -..

Input: .-.. --- ...- . (Morse → text)

Output: LOVE

Frequently asked questions​

What is the difference between International and American Morse?

International (Continental) Morse is the modern standard. American Morse used different patterns for some letters and several "compound" symbols. American Morse is mostly only useful for decoding historical telegraph records.

What WPM should I learn at?

Beginners start at 5 WPM. The "Farnsworth method" plays characters at 18 WPM but with extra gaps so the apparent rate is ~5 — trains your ear for the eventual full speed without the slow-rate habits.

Why does the audio sound choppy?

Browser audio scheduling is sample-accurate but not perfectly smooth on busy machines. Use the WAV-export option for clean audio.

Does it support prosigns (special signals)?

Yes — SOS, AR (end of message), SK (end of contact), BT (break), KN (named-station only), and others. Prosigns are written with overlines (e.g. AR) but typed as concatenated letters.

Can it handle non-Latin alphabets?

Cyrillic, Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, Japanese have their own Morse extensions. The translator supports the most common (Cyrillic, Greek). For others, transliterate to Latin first.

Does the audio decoder need a clean recording?

It tolerates moderate noise. Heavy noise / unstable timing requires manual intervention. Boost SNR via the audio cleanup tools before decoding when possible.

Tips​

  • Practise with audio rather than visual charts — Morse is fundamentally an aural skill.
  • Use Farnsworth timing when learning — fast characters with slow gaps trains the right reflexes.
  • For radio operators, 13 WPM is the historical license threshold; aim for 20+ WPM for casual contesting.
  • When sending visual Morse (flashlight), use longer dot duration than audio — eyes are slower than ears.
  • Save common phrases ("CQ CQ DE callsign") as snippets for one-click playback.

Try it now​

The full morse-code runs in your browser at https://ztools.zaions.com/morse-code — no signup, no upload, no data leaves your device.

Open the tool ↗

Last updated: 2026-05-05 · Author: Ahsan Mahmood · Edit this page on GitHub