Postal code | zip code
SeriesoflettersanddigitsforsortingmailPostofficesigninFarrer,AustralianCapitalTerritory,showingpostcode2607Apostalcode(alsoknownlocallyinvariousEnglish-speakingcountriesthroughouttheworldasapostcode,postcode,PINorZIPCode)isaseriesoflettersordigitsorboth,sometimesincludingspacesorpunctuation,includedinapostaladdressforthepurposeofsortingmail.AsofAugust 2021,[ref]theUniversalPostalUnionlists160countrieswhichrequiretheuseofapostalcode.[1]Althoughpostalcodesareusuallyassignedtogeographicalareas,...
Series of letters and digits for sorting mail
Post office sign in Farrer, Australian Capital Territory, showing postcode 2607A postal code (also known locally in various English-speaking countries throughout the world as a postcode, post code, PIN or ZIP Code) is a series of letters or digits or both, sometimes including spaces or punctuation, included in a postal address for the purpose of sorting mail.
As of August 2021,[ref] the Universal Postal Union lists 160 countries which require the use of a postal code.[1]
Although postal codes are usually assigned to geographical areas, special codes are sometimes assigned to individual addresses or to institutions that receive large volumes of mail, such as government agencies and large commercial companies. One example is the French CEDEX system.
There are a number of synonyms for postal code; some are country-specific:
CAP: The standard term in Italy; CAP is an acronym for codice di avviamento postal...