Brevity code

Brevity codes are used in amateur radio, maritime, aviation and military communications. The codes are designed to convey complex information with a few words or codes. Some terms are classified to the public.

Major published brevity codes

• RST code - information about the quality of a radio signal being received. Used by amateur radio operators, shortwave listeners. Widespread use by 1912.
• Q code - initially developed for commercial radiotelegraph communication, and later adopted by other radio services, especially amateur radio. Used since circa 1909.
• Z code - also used in the early days of radiotelegraph communication.
• Multiservice tactical brevity code used by various military forces. The codes' procedure words, a type of voice procedure, are designed to convey complex information with a few words, when brevity is required but security is not.
• ACP-131 Allied military brevity codes

See Also

• SINPO code - code used to describe the quality of radio transmissions, especially in reception reports written by shortwave listeners.