Difference between ZIP Code and Postal Code
Main Difference
To send or other documents to different parts of the world there is always a specific address of the place where everything must be delivered. Letters are delivered to those addresses so that they reach the person for whom they are intended. All over the world, each location has a specific code to make it easier for the courier. This set of specific codes is separate for cities and then even more particular for a location. The two terms that are used exclusively in this are called zip code and ZIP code, which have been called the same thing, but there are minor differences between the two. The main difference is that ZIP code is specifically a term used in the United States. United, while postcode is the term normally associated with the United Kingdom and countries that have been ruled by the British. Another difference between them is that a postal code can be specific to a country or a city, while a postal code is always for locations within a particular city or area. Every country, just like a dial code, has a postal code that is its postal identity, while every house or building is assigned a postal code that becomes recognizable. A postal code is more complex and can contain values numbers, as well as alphabets and symbols, while on the other hand, a postal code usually consists only of numbers. Postal, the word itself is related to posting something, while ZIP stands for Zoning Improvement System. Even in the broadest sense, a zip code is defined as a zip code that is longer than 5 digits. Some of these differences will be listed at the end, while a brief explanation of both terms is provided in the following lines.
Comparison chart
| zip Code | Postal Code | |
| To form | It is short for Zoning Improvement System | A postal code is related to the publication of documents or material related to the mail. |
| Country | usually associated with the United States | usually associated with the United Kingdom |
| Use | helps pinpoint the exact largest location. | It is usually used within a country to deliver documents. |
| Length | Between 5-8 characters | Can be shorter or longer |
| Explanation | Used within a country | Used within a city |
ZIP Code Definition
When identifying where to send the document, internationally there is always the need to know the exact code of the city in a country, this is done with the help of the postal code which is known as the Zoning Improvement System. This system started in the United States and is therefore primarily a term associated with Americans. It is also known as a postcode version and is defined by the Oxford dictionary as a postcode that is between 5 and 9 characters in length. It does not always contain alphabets and consists only of numbers, and the code has been assigned to each country and city where airmail is present. For example, the New York zip code consists of 5 numbers and goes from 10001 and so on.
Postal Code Definition
By dividing the cities into several segments there is also a requirement to identify the places where the mail will be sent. This is possible by assigning a specific address number to houses or buildings (even stores) some sort of numeric or alphabetic value. So a postal address can consist of numbers and alphabets, it can be very long or very short depending on how easy it is to define the location. For example, the mailing address for Madame Tussauds is 234 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, United States. Which helps pinpoint exactly where the building will be, in every way. It has the number, the address, the postal code and the exact place.
Differences in a nutshell
- Zip code is short for Zoning Improvement System, while a zip code is related to posting documents or things related to mail.
- Postal code is usually associated with the United States, while postal code is associated with the United Kingdom.
- Postal code is generally used within a country to deliver documents, while a postal code helps to identify the exact larger location.
- A zip code can be shorter or longer, while a postal code is usually between 5 and 8 characters.
- A zip code is used within a city, while a zip code is used within countries.
- A postal code is primarily considered to be a longer version of a postal code according to the Oxford dictionary definition.
Final Thought
Postal code and postal code are two terms that belong to the same family but are very different from each other. There are many differences between them that have been mentioned above that help create a clear understanding of how they are different and then help people how they are working and what exactly is going on between them.