How does Morse code work?

Morse code is a coding system that uses dots, dashes or long and short sounds, which correspond to each number or letter of the alphabet, delivering a coded message to the receiver.This code was initially used for communication between cities, but its use became known during wars, with messages sent by electric telegraph or light signals.

Morse code was developed by American inventors Samuel Finley Breese Morse and Alfred Vail around 1835. Morse is also known for being the creator of the electric telegraph.

How does Morse code work?

At the time Samuel Morse invented the code, the most common way to send a pulse message was via telegraph. The device sent pulses of electrical current based on the message that was presented using the telegraph key.

Telegraph operators then typed messages using a series of clicks based on the codes for each letter, and an operator on the receiving end received the clicks and converted them back into words.

To send and receive these messages, it was necessary to follow the standard table with the codes that represented each letter and number:

Examples of sentences in morse code

Here are some examples of common phrases using Morse code:

How important is Morse code?

Before the invention of Morse code and the telegraph in the 19th century, messages were still handwritten and carried by horse. Morse code changed the way we communicate . At the time of its invention, it was the fastest form of long-distance communication.

Morse code allowed ships at sea to communicate over long distances using large lights. It was even used during the sinking of the Titanic (in 1912) to signal for help. It was also crucial during World War II (1939 – 1945) because it improved the speed of communication.

Naval warships were able to communicate with their bases and provide critical information to each other. Warplanes also used Morse code to detail the locations of enemy ships, bases, and troops and relay them back to headquarters.

The code also allowed the growth of communication between companies, public institutions and especially journalism, allowing the sharing of updated information between distant places.

Modern day use of Morse code

Morse code is still widely recognized, even if it is not used as much as it once was. It is still frequently used on airfields, as some systems that aid radio navigation are still identified in Morse code.It has also been used as an alternative form of communication for people who are disabled or unable to communicate due to stroke, heart attack or paralysis.There have been several cases where individuals have been able to use their eyelids to communicate in Morse code, using a series of long, rapid blinks to represent the dots and dashes on the chart.