UK Government Data Standards Catalogue

Metadata Value
Data Element

Post Code

Is Part Of
Has Parts  
Version 2.0 
Status Release 
Previous Versions  
Later Versions
Version: 2.1 Status: Release
 
Date Agreed 1 January 2002
UML diagram BS7666 UML diagram
Name

Post Code

Description The code allocated by the Post Office to identify a group of postal delivery points.
Business Format Max 8 characters
Element Type Data Type
XML Schema
Validations
1. The Outward code can be 2, 3 or 4 characters followed by a space and the inward code, which is 3 characters and is always NAA2. The outward code has seven valid formats, AN, ANN, AAN, AANN, ANA, AANA, and AAA3.
2. The letters I and Z are not used in the second alpha position (except GIR 0AA)
3. The second half of the code never uses the letters C, I, K, M, O, and V.
Value
DefaultValue
Owner Royal Mail
Based On Royal Mail
Verification
Comment