…By Khurram Alley for TDPel Media.
Postal codes are typically assigned to smaller geographic units such as cities, towns, neighborhoods, or specific sections within a larger area. By including the postal code on a mail item, postal workers can efficiently route the mail to the correct destination for delivery.
A ZIP code consists of five digits, although an extended ZIP code format, known as ZIP+4, includes an additional four digits for more precise location identification. The first digit of a ZIP code represents a broad geographic region, while subsequent digits narrow down the location to a more specific area.
Postcodes are crucial for accurate and efficient mail delivery and are often used in various applications beyond postal services, including mapping, navigation, census data, and business operations that rely on location-based information.