Braille Converter
Translate text into Grade-1 (uncontracted) braille Unicode braille cells.
Convert text to Grade-1 braille instantly. Free braille translator with number signs, punctuation and character count.
Calculator Inputs
About Text to Braille
Translate text into Grade-1 (uncontracted) braille Unicode braille cells.
Each letter maps to its six-dot Grade-1 cell, rendered as Unicode braille patterns you can copy anywhere. Digits follow the grade-1 rule: a number sign (⠼) plus the a–j letters, since braille has no dedicated digits.
This is uncontracted braille — fluent readers use contracted Grade-2 with 180+ shorthand rules, which needs a proper translation engine. Unsupported symbols are counted and skipped, never silently dropped. Everything runs in your browser.
Where it is used
Accessibility demos, inclusive design mockups, teaching the braille alphabet, and tactile-signage drafts.
How to use the Text to Braille
- Text (letters, digits, basic punctuation) — enter the value (e.g. Hello 2026).
- Calculate — press the Calculate button to see the result instantly above.
Formula
Grade-1 mapping to U+2800 block; digits get a ⠼ number sign prefix.
Examples
Example
Frequently Asked Questions
- Grade 1 vs Grade 2 braille?
- Grade 1 spells letter by letter (what this tool does). Grade 2 uses contractions ("and", "the", whole-word signs) for fluent reading speed.
- Why do numbers need a special sign?
- Braille cells encode letters; the ⠼ number sign switches the next letters into digit mode. Without it, "1" would read as "a".
- Will screen readers read the output?
- Most map braille Unicode back to letters, so yes — though listening to spelled-out braille names is an odd experience by design.