Tap Code Tool: Encode and Decode Online

What is Tap Code?

Tap Code, also known as "knock code," is a simple encryption method that was originally used for military communication. This encryption technique converts letters into a series of "tap" signals, based on their positions in a matrix. Each letter corresponds to a specific row and column in the matrix, and these positions are represented by a series of taps. Typically, two taps are used to represent one letter's position.

The core of Tap Code is a square matrix, where each letter's position is indicated by its row and column numbers. The simplicity of Tap Code makes it an easy-to-understand and implement encryption method.

How Does Tap Code Encrypt?

The encryption process for Tap Code follows these steps:

1. Prepare the Plaintext: Remove spaces, punctuation, and any non-alphabet characters from the plaintext.
2. Construct the Alphabet Matrix: Tap Code uses a matrix to map letters to rows and columns. A standard matrix is typically 5×5 or larger, containing all the letters. If you need support for multiple languages or an extended alphabet, you can adjust the number of rows and columns accordingly.
3. Define Tap Symbols and Separators: During encryption, you can customize the tap symbol (such as a dot or dash) and the separator (such as a space or comma) to represent the row and column positions and separate the row-column pairs.
4. Convert Letters to Row-Column Numbers: Each letter is converted into its corresponding row and column position. For example, the letter "A" is in row 1, column 1, and "B" is in row 1, column 2, and so on.
5. Generate the Encrypted Output: Based on the row-column positions of the letters, the encryption is represented by a series of tap symbols and separators.

Example

Suppose the plaintext is "HELLO" and the alphabet matrix is 5×5, with the tap symbol being a dot (".") and the separator being a space.

1. Prepare the Alphabet Matrix:

2. Convert the Letters to Row-Column Positions:

• H → (2, 3)
• E → (1, 5)
• L → (3, 2)
• L → (3, 2)
• O → (3, 5)

3. Generate the Encrypted Output:

Using the row-column positions and tap symbols, the encryption would be:

• H → (2, 3) → .. ...
• E → (1, 5) → . .....
• L → (3, 2) → ... ..
• L → (3, 2) → ... ..
• O → (3, 5) → ... .....

Final encrypted result: ".. ... . ..... ... .. ... .. ... ....."

How Does Tap Code Decrypt?

The decryption process is simply the reverse of the encryption process. Follow these steps:

1. Prepare the Ciphertext and Alphabet Matrix: Use the same matrix that was used during encryption.
2. Parse Tap Symbols and Separators: Based on the defined tap symbols and separators, the ciphertext is parsed into row-column numbers.
3. Restore the Letter Positions: Using the row-column positions represented by the taps, find the corresponding letters.
4. Restore the Plaintext: Finally, based on the parsed letters, reconstruct the original plaintext.

Example

Suppose the ciphertext is ".. ... . ..... ... .. ... .. ... ....." and the tap symbol is a dot (".") with the separator being a space, and the same 5×5 alphabet matrix used in encryption.

1. Parse Tap Symbols and Separators:

Convert each series of taps into row-column numbers:

• .. ... → (2, 3)
• . ..... → (1, 5)
• ... .. → (3, 2)
• ... .. → (3, 2)
• ... ..... → (3, 5)

2. Restore Letter Positions:

Using the row-column positions, we find the corresponding letters:

• (2, 3) → H
• (1, 5) → E
• (3, 2) → L
• (3, 2) → L
• (3, 5) → O

3. Restore the Plaintext:

The decrypted plaintext is: "HELLO".

How to Use the Tap Code Tool?

1. Input Plaintext or Ciphertext: Depending on whether you wish to encrypt or decrypt, input the plaintext or ciphertext into the corresponding box.
2. Set Tap Symbols and Separators: Choose your preferred tap symbol (e.g., dot, dash) and separator (e.g., space, comma) to fit your needs.
3. Set the Alphabet Matrix: If you need a specific alphabet (e.g., multilingual support), you can customize the alphabet matrix. The tool will automatically generate the matrix based on the alphabet.
4. Set Rows and Columns: If you are using a non-standard alphabet (such as 26 letters, 30 letters, etc.), you can set the appropriate number of rows and columns, and the tool will generate the corresponding matrix.
5. View the Result: The system will automatically encrypt or decrypt based on your settings. You can directly copy the encrypted or decrypted result or save it as a file using the provided download option for future use.