Why Layout Recognition Matters
Experienced puzzle solvers can often identify a cipher type within seconds just by looking at how the puzzle is formatted. This saves time by allowing you to jump directly to the right tool instead of trying everything.
This guide will train your eye to spot the telltale signs of different puzzle types based on their visual appearance alone.
Number-Based Layouts
Single Numbers (1-26)
8 5 12 12 15 23 15 18 12 4
Numbers in the range 1-26, often space-separated, suggest A1Z26 (A=1, B=2, etc.)
Two-Digit Numbers (65-90 or 97-122)
72 69 76 76 79
Numbers in ASCII ranges suggest ASCII conversion. 65-90 = uppercase A-Z, 97-122 = lowercase a-z.
Two-Digit Pairs (11-55)
23 15 31 31 34
Pairs in the range 11-55 indicate Polybius square or Tap code.
8-Digit Binary Groups
01001000 01000101 01001100 01001100 01001111
Eight 0s and 1s per group = 8-bit binary (one byte per character).
Hexadecimal (0-9, A-F only)
48 45 4C 4C 4F
Two-character codes using only 0-9 and A-F indicate hexadecimal.
Symbol-Based Layouts
Dots and Dashes
.... . .-.. .-.. ---
Classic Morse code pattern. May also appear as • and − or / separators between letters.
Angular Grid Symbols
Symbols made of right angles, some with dots
⌐ ⌐• ⌊ ⌊• ⌉ ⌉• etc.
Grid-based angular shapes indicate Pigpen cipher or Templar cipher.
6-Dot Cells
⠓⠑⠇⠇⠕
Raised dots in 2×3 grid patterns = Braille.
Flag Positions or Stick Figures
People holding flags at angles = Semaphore. Stick figures in various poses = Dancing Men cipher.
Text-Based Layouts
Scrambled Text with Word Structure
Wkh wuhdvxuh lv klgghq khuh
Gibberish letters but normal word lengths/spaces suggests substitution cipher. Try Caesar/ROT or Substitution Solver.
Text Without Spaces
TETRAHRSUEIDNEROLATKDEHER
Continuous letters (no word breaks) with normal letter frequency suggests transposition: try Rail Fence, Columnar, or Route cipher.
Only Letters A, D, F, G, V, X
DG FA AD GX VD AA FF
Unmistakable: ADFGVX cipher (WWI German military cipher).
Phonetic Words
Hotel Echo Lima Lima Oscar
NATO Phonetic Alphabet — each word represents one letter.
Base64 Pattern
SGVsbG8gV29ybGQ=
Alphanumeric text ending with = or == indicates Base64 encoding.
Visual Pattern Recognition
Grid-Based Puzzles
If the puzzle is arranged in a grid or table format:
- 5×5 grid with letters — Playfair, Bifid, or Polybius base
- 6×6 grid — ADFGVX or similar
- 9×9 grid — Sudoku-based puzzle
- Crossword-style — Answers spell coordinates
Coordinate-Like Patterns
Numbers that match coordinate patterns:
- N/S/E/W prefixes — Direct coordinates (maybe encoded)
- Degree symbols (°) — Coordinate format
- Groups of 5-7 digits — May be coordinate decimals
Ancient/Historical Number Systems
Clues from Cache Titles & Descriptions
Puzzle setters often leave hints about the cipher type in the cache name or description:
Quick Recognition Flowchart
1. What characters are present?
- • Only 0 and 1 → Binary
- • Only 0-9 and A-F → Hexadecimal
- • Only A, D, F, G, V, X → ADFGVX
- • Only dots/dashes → Morse
- • Symbols/shapes → Visual cipher (Pigpen, Braille, etc.)
2. What's the number range?
- • 1-26 → A1Z26
- • 11-55 → Polybius/Tap code
- • 65-90 or 97-122 → ASCII
3. Are word boundaries preserved?
- • Yes → Substitution cipher (Caesar, Vigenère, etc.)
- • No → Transposition cipher (Rail Fence, Columnar, etc.)
4. Is there unusual formatting?
- • Strange capitalization → Extract caps
- • Unusual line breaks → Acrostic
- • Grid layout → Grid-based cipher
Universal First Steps
When you encounter any unknown puzzle, always start with these checks:
- Check for ROT13 — Geocaching.com standard. Try our ROT13 decoder first.
- Run frequency analysis — Use Letter Frequency to identify if substitution or transposition.
- Check first letters — Read the first letter of each line/sentence/word for acrostics.
- Identify the character set — What characters appear tells you what cipher family.
- Look for title hints — The cache name often reveals the cipher type.