What is the difference between Unicode braille and ASCII braille?

Unicode braille uses dedicated braille characters such as ⠃ and ⠗, which display as raised dots on supported devices. ASCII braille represents each braille cell with a normal keyboard character, which is useful for older embossers and software that do not support Unicode.

Is this braille translator accessible for screen reader users?

Yes. All controls are keyboard accessible and labeled. The braille output is provided both as visual braille dots and as a plain-text representation that screen readers can read. However, for real-world braille learning or embossing, always verify results with a braille user or specialist.

Braille Translator – Convert Text to Braille and Braille to Text

Q: What type of braille does this translator use?

This tool uses standard English Grade 1 braille (uncontracted). Each printed character is mapped to a single braille cell. It does not currently support Grade 2 contracted braille.

Q: Can I convert braille back to normal text?

Yes. Switch the direction to "Braille to Text" and paste braille dots (Unicode braille characters) or ASCII braille patterns. The tool will decode them back into plain text where possible.

How this braille translator works

This tool converts between English text and Grade 1 braille (uncontracted). Each letter, number, and basic punctuation mark is mapped to a single braille cell using the standard six-dot braille system.

In Text → Braille mode, every supported character is translated into a braille cell. Unsupported characters are passed through unchanged so you can still see them in context.

In Braille → Text mode, the tool expects either:

Unicode braille characters such as ⠓⠑⠇⠇⠕, or
ASCII braille patterns (one normal keyboard character per braille cell).

Supported characters

The translator currently supports:

Lowercase letters a–z (uppercase is converted to lowercase)
Digits 0–9 (with a leading number sign in braille)
Space and basic punctuation: comma, period, question mark, exclamation mark, colon, semicolon, apostrophe, hyphen, quotation marks, parentheses

For learning and accessibility reasons, the tool uses Grade 1 braille only. It does not apply Grade 2 contractions like “the”, “and”, or “for”.

Unicode braille vs ASCII braille

There are two common ways to represent braille on a computer:

Unicode braille uses dedicated characters in the Unicode block U+2800–U+28FF. Each character visually shows the dot pattern, for example: ⠃⠗⠁⠊⠇⠇⠑.
ASCII braille uses ordinary keyboard characters to represent each braille cell. This is useful for older embossers and software that do not support Unicode.

Use the “Braille output mode” selector to choose Unicode, ASCII, or both.

Quick reference: letters and numbers

Letters a–j (dots 1–4):
a ⠁ b ⠃ c ⠉ d ⠙ e ⠑ f ⠋ g ⠛ h ⠓ i ⠊ j ⠚

Letters k–t (add dot 3):
k ⠅ l ⠇ m ⠍ n ⠝ o ⠕ p ⠏ q ⠟ r ⠗ s ⠎ t ⠞

Letters u–z (add dot 6, except w):
u ⠥ v ⠧ w ⠺ x ⠭ y ⠽ z ⠵

Numbers 1–0:
Number sign ⠼ followed by a–j:
1 ⠼⠁ 2 ⠼⠃ 3 ⠼⠉ 4 ⠼⠙ 5 ⠼⠑ 6 ⠼⠋ 7 ⠼⠛ 8 ⠼⠓ 9 ⠼⠊ 0 ⠼⠚

Tips for using braille in real life

Always verify important labels (medication, signage, safety information) with a braille user or specialist.
Keep text concise when embossing braille on small surfaces like buttons or packaging.
Ensure good contrast and tactile quality if you are producing physical braille.

Limitations and disclaimer

This translator is designed for educational and general-purpose use. It does not replace professional braille transcription services, especially for exams, legal documents, or official signage.

Frequently asked questions

What type of braille does this translator use?

The tool uses English Grade 1 braille, also called uncontracted braille. Every character is represented by a single braille cell. Grade 2 contractions are not applied.

Can I paste braille from another website or document?

Yes. Switch to Braille → Text, then paste either Unicode braille characters or ASCII braille patterns. The translator will decode any patterns it recognizes and leave unknown characters unchanged.

Why do some characters stay the same in the output?

If a character is not in the supported Grade 1 braille table (for example, emojis or rare symbols), the tool keeps it as-is so you do not lose information. You can then decide how to handle it manually.

Is this tool suitable for learning braille?

It is a helpful supplement for learning basic braille patterns, but it is not a full teaching course. For serious study, combine this translator with tactile practice and guidance from a braille instructor or experienced user.