A1Z26 Cipher
Convert letters to numbers and back with the A1Z26 cipher, where A equals 1 through Z equals 26. Popular in puzzles and escape rooms.
Last reviewed by the Radiatus Cloud team
Convert between letters and numbers with the A1Z26 cipher (A=1 ... Z=26).
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Convert letters to numbers with A1Z26
The A1Z26 cipher is one of the simplest codes, replacing each letter with its position in the alphabet: A becomes 1, B becomes 2, and so on up to Z as 26. This tool encodes text into numbers, separating the numbers within each word with dashes and keeping words apart with spaces, and decodes numbers back into letters. For example, the word ABC encodes to 1-2-3. It is a staple of puzzles, escape rooms and beginner cryptography.
Spaces separate words so the decoder knows where one word ends and the next begins.
A gentle introduction to codes
Because the A1Z26 cipher maps directly onto the familiar alphabet, it is often the first code children and newcomers learn, and it appears frequently in treasure hunts, geocaching and puzzle games. It offers no security, since anyone can read it with the obvious key, but that simplicity is exactly why it is popular for fun and teaching.
The encoder ignores non-letter characters and the decoder accepts dashes, commas or dots between the numbers, making it forgiving of different puzzle formats. All processing happens locally in your browser.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the A1Z26 cipher?
It replaces each letter with its alphabet position, so A is 1, B is 2 and Z is 26, and reverses the mapping to decode.
How are words separated?
Numbers within a word are joined with dashes, and a space separates words, so the decoder can rebuild the original word breaks.
Is it secure?
No. The key is obvious, so anyone can decode it. It is used purely for puzzles, games and learning the idea of ciphers.
What separators does the decoder accept?
It accepts dashes, commas or dots between numbers, so it works with the different formats commonly used in puzzles.
Privacy & Security
Everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
How to Use
Enter text to encode to numbers, or numbers to decode to letters.
Disclaimer: This tool is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Results are for educational and utility purposes.
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