A postal code is a short code that helps a postal service route mail. The United States calls it a ZIP code, the United Kingdom says postcode, Germany says PLZ, France says code postal, and Italy says CAP.
What the code does
The code narrows the delivery area. It does not identify a building or a person. A valid-looking code can still be wrong for a specific street.
Common formats
US ZIP codes are five digits, sometimes with a four-digit extension. Canada uses an alphanumeric pattern such as M5H 2N2. The UK uses a variable alphanumeric postcode. Germany, France, Italy, and Spain use digits, but the number of digits differs.
Do not translate the format
Keep the code in the country’s own format. Do not add a state abbreviation to a German address or force a US ZIP pattern onto a Japanese postal code.
Questions
- A ZIP code is the US name for a postal code. Other countries use different names and formats.
- Postal services do revise codes. Use the current code from the national postal operator when delivery matters.
Is a ZIP code the same as a postal code?+
Can a postal code be changed?+
Examples are synthetic. Do not use a generated address for identity checks, account registration, or delivery.