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Your Post Code Is the Directions, Not the Destination

Name: Your Post Code Is the Directions, Not the Destination
Description: CGP Grey explains that postal codes are routing instructions for mail rather than geographic regions. He looks at the quirks and problems this causes.

CGP Grey

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4 HN users recommended this explainer4 months2025 score 4.5

Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

HN recommends it whenever zip codes, addresses or geospatial data come up, as a clear explanation of the hidden pattern in post codes.

CGP Grey explains that postal codes are routing instructions for mail rather than geographic regions. He looks at the quirks and problems this causes.

“If you find this interesting and you haven't watched it, Go watch” (HN, 2025)

1 strong recommendations · 3 recommendations · Explainers

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4 Hacker News comments

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@cogman10 Sep 2025 Strongly recommends

on HN thread Zip Code Map of the United States

If you find this interesting and you haven't watched it, Go watch "The hidden pattern in post codes" [1] [1] [this video]

Hidden pattern in post codes

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@jpjoi Feb 2025 Recommends

on HN thread Stop using zip codes for geospatial analysis (2019)

Zip codes are just weird to use for anything other than mail in general because they’re set up based off infrastructure. CGP Grey has a great video on this: [this video]

Why postal codes reflect infrastructure, not geography

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@schlauerfox Apr 2025 Recommends

on HN thread I wrote to the address in the GPLv2 license notice (2022)

CGP Grey, a youtube channel, has a video on some of the problems of the postal codes and addresses from earlier this year that I learned about alternates to my familiar US based system. [this video]

Problems with postal codes and alternative systems

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@Arnavion May 2025 Recommends

on HN thread Japan Post launches 'digital address' system

See also this CGP Grey video where he talks about post codes / zip codes in general and mentions Ireland's system. [this video]

Postal codes in general, including Ireland's system

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