Gold Codes

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This article is about authentification codes used to command a launch of nuclear weapons. For the binary codes used in telecommunications and GPS, see Gold code.

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The Gold Codes are the nuclear launch codes that are provided to the President of the United States of America. Prepared daily by the National Security Agency, the code sequence is printed on a plastic card, nicknamed "the biscuit", which is similar to a credit card, that the President carries on his person. The concept behind the codes is that they permit the President to positively identify himself as the commander-in-chief and thereby authenticate a launch order. Should a launch situation arise, the gold codes would be transmitted to the military via the Nuclear Football.