Addresses around the world
Address Components Explained
Building number, street, locality, city, region, postal code and country: a plain-English glossary of the parts that make up an address.
Updated 14 October 2026 · 2 min read
An address is made up of components, each narrowing down the destination a little more. The terms below are used loosely across countries, but this glossary gives a practical meaning to each.
Recipient
The person, household or organisation who receives the item. It may include a department, a job title or a "care of" line.
Building identifier
The number or name of the building. Numbers are usually sequential along a street. Names are common for large buildings, estates and houses without numbers.
Thoroughfare
The street, road, avenue, lane, or similar public way. The name may include a type word and sometimes a direction. More detail is in building number and street name.
Sub-building detail
An apartment, flat, suite, unit, floor or room. It identifies a specific place inside a larger building. See apartment, unit and floor notation.
Locality or district
A neighbourhood, suburb, village or administrative district. Used to separate similarly named streets or give extra context. See locality, district and city.
City or town
The main settlement for sorting and delivery.
Region
A state, province, county, prefecture or similar top-level area. Some countries require it; others do not. See state, province and region.
Postal code
A short code that groups addresses into delivery areas, issued by a national postal operator. Its form varies widely by country.
Country
Routes the item to the correct national system. Always on its own line for international mail.
How they fit together
Taken together, these components form a chain from the broadest area to a single doorstep. Components that are missing weaken the chain. An exact-location code can add precision when parts of the chain are vague, for instance where a building has no number, though it does not replace the components above.
Summary
Each component answers one question: who, which building, which street, which area, which city, which region and which country. Keep them separate in forms and databases and you can format them for any destination.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a locality and a city?
A locality is a smaller place such as a neighbourhood or village. A city is a larger settlement. A locality often sits inside a city or town.
Are all components required in every address?
No. Which components are needed depends on the country and how the area is organised. Some places have no street names or postal codes.