What is Morse Code?

Morse code is a method used in telecommunication to encode text as standardized sequences of two different signal durations. This signal duration is called dots and dashes (dits and dahs). Morse code is named after Samuel Morse. He is one of the inventors of the telegraph.

The Morse code encodes the 26 basic Latin letters. Also, one Latin letter, the Arabic numerals, and a small set of punctuation. There is no significant difference between upper and lower case letters. Because each Morse code symbol is formed by a sequence of dits and dahs. In Morse code transmission, dit duration is the basic unit of measurement. The dahs duration is three times the duration of a dit. Each dit or dah is followed by a period of signal absence, called a space. The letters are separated by a space that is equal to the three dits, and words are separated by a space that is equal to seven dits. 

Code can be memorized and sent in a form visible to the human senses. For example, via sound waves or visible light. Code is usually transmitted by the on-off key of an information-carrying medium like an electric current, visible light, or sound waves. The wave is present during the period of dit and dah and absents during the period of dit and dah.

To increase the efficiency of encoding, code was designed so that length of each symbol is about inverse to the frequency that represents a letter in the English language. The most common letter in English is the letter E which has the shortest code. Because the code elements are specified by proportion rather than specific duration. So, the code is usually transmitted at the highest rate. Its transmission rate is specified in groups per minute. Also, refer to words per minute.