postal code
Let an agent explain postal codes, relay formats, histories and uses from postal operator and UPU sources, describe the national systems the registry aliases name, and distinguish postal codes from addresses, administrative area codes, telephone area codes and geocodes.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain postal codes, relay formats, histories and uses from postal operator and UPU sources, describe the national systems the registry aliases name, and distinguish postal codes from addresses, administrative area codes, telephone area codes and geocodes.
A series of letters, digits or both appended to a postal address to aid mail sorting, used in most countries, such as the United States ZIP code introduced in 1963, United Kingdom postcodes rolled out from 1959 to 1974, the Brazilian Codigo de Enderecamento Postal or CEP, the five-digit French code postal, Swedish postal codes introduced in 1968 and Gibraltar s single postcode GX11 1AA; postal codes are widely reused for geography, statistics, pricing and service areas.
What it is for: Sorting mail and locating addresses.
It can be explain formats; relay national histories; describe named systems; distinguish related codes.
Distinguishing features
Sorting aid
National formats
Reused for geography
Not administrative boundaries
What it looks like
Not a visible object; codes written in addresses.
Physical character
US ZIP code: 1963 year - 5 digits, ZIP+4 from 1983
UK postcodes: 1959-1974 years - alphanumeric
Brazil CEP: 1971 year - 8 digits since 1992
Gibraltar postcode: GX11 1AA code - single code, 2012
How it is recognised
Code aiding mail sorting
ZIP code, UK postcode, CEP, code postal, Swedish postal code, Gibraltar postcode
Addresses identify places; administrative codes identify government areas; telephone area codes route calls; geocodes are coordinates
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is part of -
includes -
is contrasted with -
In practice
Families and kinds
numeric codes such as ZIP and code postal
alphanumeric codes such as UK and Canadian postcodes
single territory codes
extended codes such as ZIP+4
Standards and regulation
UPU postal addressing standards S42
National postal operator rules
Failure modes and hazards
Treating postal codes as administrative boundaries
Postcode-based discrimination in pricing, as reported
Stale code lists
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What a postal code is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a postal code, and how does it differ from addresses, administrative codes, phone area codes and geocodes? definition
- Is the question about a specific country, looking up a code or data use? boundary
Systems
Named national systems.
Systems
Systems.
- How do ZIP codes, UK postcodes, CEP, French codes postaux, Swedish codes and the Gibraltar postcode work? definition
- Which entry fits the specific system? action
History History.
Sources.
Origins
Origins.
Origins
Origins.
- How did postal districts evolve into modern postal codes? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Mechanisation
Mechanisation.
Mechanisation
Mechanisation.
- How did codes enable automated sorting? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Uses Other uses.
Attribution.
Data
Geographic data.
Data
Data.
- How are postal codes used in statistics, insurance and geocoding? provenance
- Which entry fits geocoding? action
Concerns
Concerns.
Concerns
Concerns.
- What concerns about postcode lotteries and redlining have been raised, with sources attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits redlining? action
Context Addressing.
Context.
Addresses
Addressing.
Addresses
Addresses.
- How do postal codes fit into address formats worldwide? provenance
- Which entry fits address? action
Alternatives
Alternative systems.
Alternatives
Alternatives.
- How do systems such as Ireland s Eircode or grid-based codes differ? provenance
- Which entry fits Eircode? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should each national system be a separate entry?
- How should postal operator sources be linked?
- The registry alias postal addresses in Gibraltar is broader than postal codes; should it be split off?