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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryEmail & LifecycleShort Code

Email & Lifecycle

Short Code

A five- or six-digit phone number used for high-volume, pre-approved SMS marketing in the U.S. and Canada.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

A short code is a five- or six-digit phone number used for high-volume, pre-approved SMS marketing in the U.S. and Canada. Short codes require carrier approval before use. They support much higher throughput than standard phone numbers, making them suitable for large promotional campaigns, alerts and keyword-based opt-in programs.