Attached to or near the control flag are one or more punches and a card with the "control code". Each flag is assigned a unique control code, usually a two-letter combination (numbers may also be used, but international rules state that numbers 1-40 are not used for control codes). These codes allow the orienteer to determine that the control is in fact the correct one. The codes are usually listed in the clues that define the controls for each course, and many orienteers write the control codes in the corresponding boxes of the control card, to help make sure that they never punch at the wrong control or in the wrong box of the punch card.