Last reviewed on May 1, 2026.
The pair pages on this site answer the immediate question — what is one currency worth in another right now. The articles below cover the background that makes those numbers easier to interpret: how a quote is read, why a bank's rate differs from the reference rate, what the three-letter codes mean, and how to tell whether a pair is "major", "minor", or "exotic". Each guide is jurisdiction-neutral and is reviewed periodically.
How currency exchange rates are quoted
Base and quote currencies, direct vs indirect quotes, bid and ask, pips, inverse rates, and why two reputable sites can show slightly different numbers for the same pair.
Mid-market rate vs the rate your bank actually gives you
Where the gap between a reference rate and a real-world consumer rate comes from, how to estimate it as a percentage, and what to compare when shopping around for a money transfer or card.
ISO 4217 currency codes: structure and meaning
How three-letter codes are built, why the euro is an exception, what X-codes are for, and why the same currency symbol — like "$" — can mean a dozen different currencies.
Major, minor, and exotic currency pairs
What separates the three groups, why the categorisation predicts spreads and liquidity, and what it means for the gap between the reference rate on a pair page and what you can actually transact at.
Looking up a specific rate
For the live reference rate on a specific pair, head to the home page and pick a pair, or jump to a popular one directly: USD to EUR, EUR to USD, USD to GBP, GBP to USD, USD to JPY, USD to CAD.