POSTkoodit

POSTkoodit, the Estonian term for postal codes, are four-digit numeric codes used to designate geographic delivery areas for mail and parcels in Estonia. They form part of the national addressing system and are employed by postal and logistics operators to sort and route items efficiently.

Administration and scope: The system is maintained by Omniva, Estonia's national postal operator, in cooperation with local authorities. Each code corresponds to a defined geographic area, covering all municipalities and most settlements, with codes used in official address databases and online lookup tools.

Format and usage: Postcodes are four digits long and are written together with the city or locality name in addresses. In data systems, they are stored as four-digit strings. Omniva provides a postcode directory and lookup services to verify addresses and find the correct code for a given place.

Applications: Postcodes support mail and parcel delivery, address validation in e-commerce, logistics planning, and Geographic Information Systems. They also facilitate statistical analyses and regional planning.

Context: While POSTkoodit are specific to Estonia, many European countries use similar four- or five-digit systems under different local names; the concept and purpose are common across national postal networks.