Postcodes in the United Kingdom
Postal codes used in the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown dependencies are known as postcodes. They are alphanumeric and were adopted nationally between 11 October 1959 and 1974, having been devised by the General Post Office. A full postcode is known as a "postcode unit" and designates an area with several addresses or a single major delivery point.
Street name signs on Birdbrook Road, Great Barr, Birmingham, showing old "Birmingham 22" postal district (top) and modern "B44" postcode.
A postal code is a series of letters or digits or both, sometimes including spaces or punctuation, included in a postal address for the purpose of sorting mail.
Post office sign in Farrer, Australian Capital Territory, showing postcode 2607
1977 Soviet stamp promoting the use of postal codes