Alphabet
Braille Translator
Braille is a tactile writing system read with the fingertips, using patterns of raised dots in a six-dot cell. This translator converts printed text into the braille symbols and reads braille back into text.
Result appears here
It produces Grade 1 (uncontracted) braille, where each cell is one letter or number, which is the clearest form for learning. Everything runs locally in your browser.
How the Braille works
Every character maps to a cell of up to six dots arranged in two columns of three. The first ten letters use the top four dots; later letters add the lower dots in a regular pattern.
Numbers reuse the letters a to j, preceded by a number sign so a reader knows to read them as digits. This translator inserts that number sign automatically.
Examples
Braille chart
Every letter at a glance. Use it to read or write by hand.
History and origins
Louis Braille, blind from a childhood accident, devised the system in France in 1824 when he was just fifteen. He adapted a military night-writing code into the compact six-dot cell that could be read quickly by touch.
Braille spread worldwide and remains the primary literacy system for blind and low-vision readers, appearing on signage, packaging, lift buttons and books everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Is this contracted (Grade 2) braille?
No, it produces Grade 1 braille where every letter is spelled out cell by cell. Grade 1 is the right starting point for learners and for anyone matching a chart.
How are numbers shown in braille?
Numbers use the same cells as the letters a to j, with a number sign in front to signal that digits follow. This tool adds the number sign for you.
Can I print these braille characters?
The output uses standard Unicode braille characters, so they display and print anywhere. They are visual only, not raised, so they are for learning and reference rather than tactile reading.
Learn more
Go deeper on the ideas behind this tool.