A route (or road) number, designation or abbreviation is an identifying numeric (or alphanumeric) designation assigned by a highway authority to a particular stretch of roadway to distinguish it from other routes and, in many cases, also to indicate its classification (e.g. motorway, primary route, regional road, etc.), general geographical location (in zonal numbering systems) and/or orientation (north-south v. east-west). The numbers chosen may be used solely for internal administrative purposes; however, in most cases they are also displayed on roadside signage and indicated on maps. Use of letters Letters are often used in road designations to indicate a class of roadways. Within such a class, roads are distinguished from each other by a road number. The way such letters are used depends on the country or other political jurisdiction which contains and controls the road. For instance, among A1 motorways, the one in Spain has a hyphen between the A and the 1 (Autovia A-1) while in Germany the Autobahn 1 is written A 1, with a space between the A and the 1. In Argentina there are zeros between the A and the 1 (Autopista A001). Single-letter abbreviations "A" may mean "motorway" in a number of countries (ex. Autoroute in France or Autostrada in Italy or Autobahn in Germany), usually the largest and highest-quality roadways in the country. Is also used for primary roads in the UK. It also means a road of national significance in Australia. "B" may mean "Bundesstraße" in Germany and means a road of state significance in Australia "C" may mean county in the US and means a connecting route that connects two places in Victoria, Tasmania or the Northern Territory "D" may mean "départementale" in France or "Diaľnica" in Slovakia "E" may mean "European" road or "Expressways" in Zimbabwe "F" "G" "H" may mean "Hawaiian Interstate" in the US "I" may mean "Interstate" in the US "J" "K" may be used for a state highway in Kansas in the US or Kreissstraße in Germany "L" may mean "local" route in Ireland or Landesstraße in Germany "M" used for motorways in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia, metropolitan routes in South Africa, municipal roads in Portugal, and also used for state highways in Michigan in the US "N" may mean "national" road "O" may mean "Otoyol" in Turkey "P" "Q" "R" may mean "regional" route in South Africa, Ireland, Portugal and Ukraine or "ring"