Postcodes and Addresses FAQ: Postal Codes Explained

A postcode is a short code, made of letters, numbers or both, that is added to an address to help sort and route mail. Official postcodes are issued by national postal operators or governments.

Postal services use it to sort mail quickly and send it to the right delivery area. Many businesses and online forms also use it to estimate shipping or check a delivery address.

ZIP code is the name used in the United States, while postcode or postal code is the general term used in many other countries. They do the same job, but the formats and the areas they cover differ.

Each country designs its own system, so formats vary in length and in the mix of letters and digits. Some use five digits, some six, and some combine letters and numbers.

No. Many countries have nationwide postcodes, but some have none or only partial systems. Where there is no postcode, mail relies on the place name, street or a local description.

Usually not. A postcode normally covers an area, such as a group of streets or a district, so neighbours often share the same code. A UPCS code is different: it identifies one 3 m by 3 m square, so it points to an exact spot.

PIN code is the name for the postal code used in India. It is a six-digit number that identifies a postal delivery area.

An address is a human-readable description, such as a street, number and town. A location is a precise point, usually expressed as latitude and longitude, that can be shown on a map.

A digital address is a short code or reference that stands for a specific place and can be shared electronically. It can be used alongside a traditional address to point to an exact spot.

Streets may be unnamed, buildings may be unnumbered, or areas may have grown faster than addresses were assigned. In these places people often give directions or landmarks instead.

Common causes are missing or unclear street names, buildings without numbers, similar place names and entrances that are hard to find. Adding a UPCS code gives the driver the exact door or gate to head for.

They are a pair of numbers that describe a position on the Earth. Latitude measures north or south of the equator and longitude measures east or west, so together they point to one place.

UK postcodes are made of two parts separated by a space: an outward part that identifies the area and district, and an inward part that narrows it down to a small group of addresses.

A standard US ZIP code has five digits. A longer ZIP+4 version adds four more digits to describe a smaller delivery segment.

A Canadian postal code has six characters in a letter, number, letter pattern followed by a number, letter, number pattern, usually written with a space in the middle.

Yes. Postal operators may add, split or revise postcodes as areas grow or delivery routes are reorganised, so it is worth checking an address for current details.

No. Official postcodes are assigned by the national postal authority, so a code you invent will not be recognised by mail systems. A separate location code, such as a UPCS code, can accompany your address but is not an official postcode.

It is a code that identifies a square cell of a map grid, so every point inside the square shares the same code. UPCS works this way, using cells of 3 m by 3 m.

Yes. A postcode covers an area and a street address describes a building, while a UPCS code identifies a 3 m by 3 m square and leads to the exact spot you picked. It works best alongside your normal address.

A UPCS code does not depend on street names or numbers. Pick your spot on the map and the code leads anyone who opens it to that exact place, so you can add it to whatever address description you use.

Yes. Because the code comes from a point on the map, it works for a gate, a side entrance, a farm track or a building that is too new to have an address, as long as the place is in a supported country.