Morse Code Translator

How it is calculated

This Morse code translator converts text into Morse code and Morse code back into text – live as you type. At the press of a button the code is played as sound and, if you like, shown as a flashing light, at the speed you choose.

How it works

1. Type or paste text into the box. If the input consists only of dots, dashes and slashes, the translator detects Morse code automatically and shows the plain text.
2. Writing Morse input: dot . and dash - (also · and −), a space between letters, and / or two spaces between words.
3. Play sends the result. Speed, pitch and volume are adjustable; with “Light” a panel flashes as well, which can also go full screen.
4. “Copy” puts the result on the clipboard; “Use result as input” reverses the direction.

Character set

Letters A–Z, digits 0–9, the punctuation . , : ? ' - / ( ) " = + @ and É follow the international standard ITU-R M.1677-1. The signs for ! ; & _ $ and the German Ä, Ö, Ü, CH and ß are not part of the ITU standard but are widely used, for example in amateur radio. Other accented letters are reduced to their base letter (ñ → N).

Speed: words per minute and Farnsworth

Speed is measured in words per minute (WPM) using the standard word “PARIS”, which takes exactly 50 time units including the word space. One unit (a dot) therefore lasts 1200 ms ÷ WPM – 60 ms at 20 WPM. A dash is 3 units, the gap inside a character 1, between letters 3 and between words 7 units.

With the Farnsworth method each character is sent fast, but the gaps between them are stretched. That way you learn the sound of a character as a whole instead of counting dots and dashes. Example: characters at 18 WPM, Farnsworth speed 8 WPM. The gaps are calculated using the ARRL standard by Jon Bloom (1990).

Honest limits

• The translator only reads written Morse code (dots and dashes). It cannot decode Morse from an audio recording or the microphone.
• Morse code has no upper or lower case, so translated text appears in capitals.
• Procedural signs and Q codes (e.g. “error” ........, end of work ...-.-) are not translated as separate signs; unknown sequences appear as #.
• There is deliberately no flashlight mode: browsers only allow the torch through camera access, and not on every device.

Privacy

Translation, sound and light are produced entirely in your browser. Your text is neither sent nor stored – not even in browser storage. Once you close the page, it’s gone.

More text tools: text to speech reads text aloud, and the character counter counts characters and words.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and legal basis

• ITU-R M.1677-1 (10/2009): International Morse code
• ARRL QEX (J. Bloom, 1990): A Standard for Morse Timing Using the Farnsworth Technique
• MDN Web Docs – OscillatorNode (Web Audio API)

As of: 28 September 2026