In some Asian cultures, number combinations that sound phonetically similar to meaningful phrases can be used to convey messages. The practice of using number combinations to transmit messages became popular when pagers (or beepers) were widely used as a form of communication, because letters and words could not be transmitted in early beepers. Users could only punch in numbers and other special symbols in their pager messages.

 

There are four sets of code in this artwork. All four codes are messages in Mandarin:

 

      520 — I love you.
      (This is the most famous and recognizable code.)

      584 — I swear.

      408 — Is that you?

      098 — You’re the best.