What Are The Different Parts of a Phone Number?

A phone number is a unique set of digits; each digit serves a specific purpose to ensure calls or messages reach the right person. You can think of a phone number as a home address. The way a mailing address instructs the post office where to deliver a letter, in the same way a phone number instructs a phone network where to send a call or text message.

For instance, if you want to talk to someone, you dial their phone number. The phone system then uses that number to find and connect to the right phone, no matter where it is.

Phone numbers are divided into 4 parts: country code, area code, prefix, and line number. Here's a simple breakdown of the different parts of a phone number:

A country code is a short alphanumeric identification code that lets the phone system know which country you are trying to reach. Whenever you dial an international number, the country code is the first part of the number you enter before dialing a phone number. Every country has its own unique code.

For example, the country code for the United States is +1, where
 

• “+” indicates long-distance calls across places, alerting networks to move the call.
• “1” represents the country code of the United States.

The following are some country codes in tabular form for countries around the world:
 

Area codes are usually put after the country code (or at the beginning if you're calling within the same country). It helps identify the specific region or city within a country where the phone number is located. For instance, in the US, the area code 212 is for New York City.
 

The following are some area codes in tabular form for countries around the world:
 

Additionally, area codes are assigned by the government agency that manages telecommunications and phone numbers in each country. For example:
 

• In the United States, area codes are assigned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and managed by the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA).
• In India, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) assigns area codes.
• In China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) handles the assignment of area codes.

After the area code, the next is the prefix. A telephone prefix is a set of digits that comes after the area code. It helps direct your call to a specific part of a city or region. It usually represents a small area or a group of phone lines within the larger area defined by the area code.

The prefix, area code, and line number help the phone system connect your call to the correct phone.
 

For example: In the US phone number (212) 555-1234, here
 

• 212 is the area code for New York City.
• 555 is the telephone prefix that helps direct the call to a specific area or group of phone lines within New York City.
• 1234 is the line number, which identifies the specific phone line.

The line number is the last set of unique digits assigned to a specific phone line. They uniquely identify a specific line within a local area. This number is what connects your call to one particular phone. It tells the phone system exactly which phone to connect the call to. It is like a house number on a street.

For example, in the phone number (212) 555-1234, the 1234 is the line number.
 

Exit codes only come into play when you need to make international calls. You need to dial this code before an international phone number to indicate that you want to make a call outside your country. It tells your telephone service provider that calls need to go to another country. Almost every country has a different exit code. They are usually 2 or 3 digits formed using a combination of “0” or “1”.

Example: If you are trying to call France from the United States, then 
 

• Exit Code for the United States: 011
• Country Code for France: 33
• Area code: 1
• Local Number in France: xxxx-xxxx
   

So, you need to dial: 011 (Exit code) 33 (country code) 1 234 5678 (phone number)

The following are some exit codes in tabular form for countries around the world:
 

An extension number is a set of digits added at the end of the phone number. It helps your call to be directed to a specific person or department within an organization.

For example, suppose the customer service team in the ABC organization has the contact information of (212) 555-1234 567. Here, (212) 555-1234 denotes the primary number of the ABC organization, and ext. 567 is added to this number if you want to reach the customer support team directly.

Understanding the different parts of a cell phone number is crucial to knowing how phone systems work, locally or internationally. Each phone number part, exit code, country code, area code, telephone prefix, line number, and even extension has a specific role in ensuring your call or message reaches the right person, no matter where they are.

+1 is the country code for the United States and Canada. So, if you want to call a number in the United States or Canada, dial +1, followed by the area code and local phone number.

The standard format for a phone number is “country code,” + “area code,” + “line number.” For instance, the correct way to enter a phone number in the United States is “+1 202 555 1234”.

A prefix number is a three-digit code that identifies a much smaller region within the area code.