Cipher
A1Z26 Cipher Translator
A1Z26 is the simplest number cipher: A is 1, B is 2, all the way to Z is 26. Type a message to get the numbers, or paste numbers separated by dashes to decode it.
Result appears here
It is a staple of escape rooms and puzzle hunts. The translation runs entirely in your browser.
How the A1Z26 works
Each letter is replaced by its position in the alphabet. Within a word the numbers are joined with dashes, and words are separated by spaces.
To decode, the tool reads each number and converts it back to the letter at that position. Numbers outside 1 to 26 are ignored.
Examples
History and origins
Numbering the letters of the alphabet is an obvious idea that has been used informally for as long as people have written puzzles. It has no single inventor.
Because it is so easy to learn and use, A1Z26 appears constantly in classroom activities, treasure hunts and beginner cryptography lessons.
Frequently asked questions
How do I decode an A1Z26 cipher?
Read each number as a letter position: 1 is A, 2 is B, and so on. Paste dash-separated numbers into the tool and it converts them for you.
What separates letters and words in A1Z26?
Letters inside a word are joined with dashes and words are separated by spaces, so 8-9 space 20-8-5-18-5 reads as hi there.
Learn more
Go deeper on the ideas behind this tool.