What do digits in zip code mean

Four additional digits preceded by a hyphen were added to the basic code. This allowed senders to indicate an even more precise location, such as a particular block or apartment building. The last two numbers, in fact, designate which segment or side of the street.

The rise in post office boxes also made this greater level of precision necessary. What about something that actually goes in the mail?

The UPU also provides moderation for disputes in a complex global trade environment. For this reason, it is important to technologists working with ZIP code data to understand that postal code systems have far-reaching geopolitical significance as problem-solving tools.

Postal codes in Canada and the United States are two separate systems. As with the United States, Canada maintains one of the most well-defined postal code systems in the world. This system evolved in the s and s, alongside a population boom in the country. The first postal code was a three-digit system that evolved into a six-digit system in The first three digits are known as a forward sortation area FSA , which correspond to a geographic region such as a province or territory.

The second set of three digits corresponds to a local delivery unit LDU , which describes a group of addresses. Postal codes in Canada have taken on a similar function to ZIP codes in the United States with regards to mail sorting, automation, and the management of demographic data.

Loqate helps businesses around the world verify customer addresses by combining our global datasets with best in class technology. Our easy to integrate API helps our customers verify customer data at the point of capture. Not so for the full 9-digit zip code. For another thing, they can help get you those bulk mailing discounts. Another important benefit to using the last four digits of ZIP Codes is delivery speed.

That's right, your mail can show up faster if you label things right. Bet you're scrambling for those codes now, huh? Get those extra 4 digits. If you want to try it on a single address, you can use our single address verification tool now. Go ahead and perform some postal address verification. Or you could call us instead if you'd rather talk to a real person. We'd offer a fake person, but we don't have one of those on staff. International Address Autocomplete. Timothy Harris is a freelance writer based in Albuquerque.

He brings a professional background in event marketing, residential real estate and journalism to the table to provide useful and relevant content for the modern renter. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Apartment Communities. Timothy Harris April 22, 3 Minute Read. So, what exactly is the deal with those extra zip code numbers? We've got the answers. What the traditional zip code means When someone asks for your zip code, you probably reply with a string of five numbers.

What the extra four numbers mean The extra four numbers in your zip code were introduced two decades after the initial introduction of a zip code.