Basically, ISO codes are standardized codes, and unique identification letters created and maintained by an international organization for standardization (ISO). For example, ISO country codes are used to standardize the reference to the country’s geographical name, and its subdivisions.
Types of ISO codes
As a unique identifier I have the codes are used for various purposes including country codes, different currencies, different languages and even different time zones across the world.
1. Country codes
ISO 3166 code is used to refer to countries and their sub parts. ISO 3166-1 is fundamentally used to refer to the geographical areas of the countries, their provinces and their subdivisions and also their territories overseas.
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2: It is used to refer to two letter country codes as it designates a unique alphabet to the countries. For example, GB for Great Britain, and JP for Japan.
ISO 3166-2 alpha-3: This format of code is used for three letter country codes as it designates unique alphabets to the countries with the three letter word. For example, USA for the United States of America.
ISO 3166-3: numeric: In this format of country codes a three-digit number is assigned two countries for unique identification in the international system. For example, 844 United States of America.
2. Currency codes
ISO 4217 is used to refer to different currencies in circulation all over the globe. These codes are used internationally as in three letter alphabet and three-digit in number code. For example, for the Australian dollar, AUD-306 is used.
3. Language codes
ISO 639 is used to refer to different languages spoken all over the world in different regions and continents. Moreover, it is also used to refer to language groups as well. For example, ENG for English, RUS for Russian and JPN for Japanese.
4. Time and date format codes:
ISO 8601 Is used to refer to a standardized system of time and date it did actually to eliminate confusion among different time zones. For instance, the standardized format for time date and time zone is given below.
DATE: YYYY-MM-DD (2024-05-06)
TIME: HH:MM:SS (13:30:25)
Time Zone: +HHMM or -HHMM (+0500 for PST)
5. Bank Codes
ISO 9362 is the bank identifier code Israeli accepted international stay for transnational transactional and the identification of businesses in financial and non-financial centers. It is also called SWIFT code. For example, Citibank New York the code is CITIUS33, for Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh is RBOSGB2L and for HSBC Hong Kong is HSBCHKHH.
6. Domain names:
Actually, it comes under the first type called country codes. We reach a country with a unique identity in the format of ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2. For example, for United States, the top level domain code is .us and for Pakistan is.pk as a top level domain.
Applications of ISO codes
ISO codes used to code or frequently used internationally for various purposes all around the world.
International business transactions
In international transactions ISO codes are used by businesses and across industries in their financial dealings with each other. He didn’t steal money transfers that are possible only with the unique bank identifier codes like SWIFT code.
Global data analysis
At International level, ISO codes help in the collection of data, documentation of data, categorization of data, and analysis of data which is in various languages from different regions of the world.
No shopping on Amazon
ISO codes made shopping on Amazon internationally possible. They’re used from the payments at international level which happens through currency exchange and the delivery of the product to the designated address which is also categorized as per the country code and subdivisions.
Catalog in libraries
ISO language codes are used in libraries to make and maintain catalogs of books and even databases for information services.
Global logistics
ISO country codes are the backbone in international shipping and logistics as they help in identifying the origin and destination for products shipped at international level in international markets.
Digital identity is possible
Getting a top-level domain is possible only with ISO codes which have designated each country an extension in alphabets which distinguish it from other countries. For instance .fr for France.
International travel
They’re also used to identify different nationalities of people belonging to different countries traveling by an airplane. Plus, airline tickets, arrivals and departures or all used ISO codes to operate smoothly without any confusion.
IT sector
These ISO codes follow the proper and standardized coding which comes in handy for software developers as it helps them in improving the security, maintenance for new applications which are being developed.
Conclusion
ISO codes which follow standardized coding practices have made international shipping, logistics, and countless other areas of life. These codes have made international cooperation, data exchange, and a financial system run smoothly possible due to their proper use at international level.
