The Postcode Address File (PAF) is a data file available from the Royal Mail.
It is used to validate postal addresses and look up postcodes. It holds the correct and full postal details for over 27 million UK addresses and is available in a variety of formats including Digital Audio Tape and compact disk. A charge is made for lookup services or wholesale supply of PAF data.
Structure of the file
DATA TYPE FIELD NAME MAX LENGTH
Organisation Organisation Name 60
Department Name 60
Premise Sub Building Name 30
Building Name 50
Building Number 4
Thoroughfare Dependent Thoroughfare Name 60
Dependent Thoroughfare Descriptor 20
Thoroughfare Name 60
Thoroughfare Descriptor 20
Locality Double Dependent Locality 35
Dependent Locality 35
Post Town 30
Postcode 7
PO Box PO Box 6
Application
The data is used by a wide range of organisations for a variety of activities other than directing mail, such as marketing, government statistics, calculating insurance premiums and credit referencing.
Alias data
The Alias File is a supplimentary file containing "postally-not-required" data, details that have changed over time, or have been slightly amended by the public, and then used. This file is used to identify these elements and cross-reference with the correct postal address.
See also
External links
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