Definition
ZIP code, a geographical classification system developed by the U.S. government for mail distribution, refers to a nested, numeric code with a range of five to nine digits. ZIP stands for Zone Improvement Plan. [1]
U.S. ZIP codes are a type of postal code used to help the United States Postal Service (USPS) route mail more efficiently.
Some still refer to ZIP codes as US postal codes. The basic 5-digit format was first introduced in 1963 and later extended to add an additional 4 digits after a dash to form a ZIP+4 code. The additional 4 digits help USPS more precisely group mail for delivery.
The basic 5-digit format was first introduced in 1963 and later extended to add an additional 4 digits after a dash to form a ZIP+4 code. The additional 4 digits help USPS more precisely group mail for delivery.” [2]
ZIP code or postcode analysis is a research technique in which a market is targeted by the geographic information inherently provided by a ZIP code.
References
- American Marketing Association, AMA Dictionary.
- United States Zip Codes.org. About US ZIP Codes.