Area code
Definition
The digits after the country code that indicate a geographic region, like 212 in the US or 20 for London.
Area code, explained
An area code is the part of a phone number that originally identified a geographic region. In the US and Canada every number has a three-digit area code after +1, such as 212 for New York or 416 for Toronto. Because people keep their numbers when they move, the area code no longer reliably shows where someone lives. UK numbers use variable-length codes, such as 20 for London, while UK mobiles start with 7 after +44. Noir SMS does not let you choose a specific area code or city; you choose the country and receive an available number.
Related terms
Where you'll meet this term
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