Every person who at least once sent a parcel by mail probably knows what zip postal code is. In Russian, this will mean a zip code. If you still do not know what it is, then this article is for you.
Definition
A postal code is a set of numbers and characters assigned to a postal item. Simply put, in order to simplify the sorting and forwarding of parcels, a special code was introduced. If the destination country and zip code are known, the letter or package can reach the desired post office, even if the rest of the address has been erased.
Currently, postal codes are used in 192 countries of the world that are members of the Universal Postal Union. Despite the fact that countries are united in a single system, it is customary to introduce a different designation in different regions.
Some countries use the alphanumeric alphabet to number their post offices, others only numbers.
Using
If you need to send a parcel to another city, and even more so to another country, then knowledge of the index is a prerequisite for registration. Without it, you may simply not accept the departure. And if, while sending in Russia, the postal worker is still able to tell you, then when delivering abroad you better check with the recipient. Otherwise, your parcel may leave in a completely different direction.
When you indicate the address on a letter or box, the index can be located in different places. In most English-speaking countries, the index is usually prescribed after the settlement of the recipient, but in Russia and some other countries (for example, Germany), the index is set to the city. However, often this is advisory in nature, and you can add the index at least at the end of the address if you forgot to do it earlier.
Format
As already mentioned, postal code or postal code can be written in different ways. Let's look at a few examples and start with our homeland.
- In Russia, the postal code is written in the form , where the first three numbers are the city code, and UUU is the post office number. Thus, upon delivery of a parcel by index 236010, it will arrive in the city of Kaliningrad at 10 post offices, and with code 236039 - in the same city, but already at post office 39. Therefore, if you order something on the Internet, it is very important to correctly write an index, otherwise your package may come to the other end of the city.
- In Germany, indexes are used that are not too different from ours. For example, D-80331 München, where “D” is the country code, and numbers are the number of the region and postal zone.
- In the USA, the postal code consists of nine characters: -, in which X is the locality (city, district) number, and U is the postal service number.