area codes

Area codes are a part of phone numbers that identify specific geographic regions within a country, primarily used in North America. They help route calls efficiently by indicating the location of the caller or recipient. When dialing a phone number, the area code is dialed before the local number, ensuring that the call reaches the correct region. These codes can cover large cities, neighborhoods, or parts of a state, and sometimes change to accommodate population growth or new regions. Overall, area codes organize phone numbers geographically, making communication more manageable and systematic.