ISO 3166-1 alpha-2

ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes are two-letter abbreviations assigned to countries and territories worldwide to uniquely identify them. These codes simplify international communication, shipping, data exchange, and identifying locations on maps or websites. For example, "US" stands for the United States, "GB" for the United Kingdom, and "JP" for Japan. These standardized codes help ensure consistency and clarity in global interactions, reducing confusion that might arise from language differences or varying naming conventions. They are part of an international standard maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).