Sheet 01 · Convert
Translate braille. Then practice the cells.
Free Grade 1 (uncontracted) braille tools in the browser. Type English to get Unicode braille, or paste cells back to text. Use the alphabet chart when one letter is unclear. Open a short quiz if you want to check yourself. No signup.
How a session usually goes
No special study plan needed. Convert first; open the other sheets only if you stay.
- 01Convert above
Type a short English line, or paste braille cells the other way. Copy the result if you need it for a slide or a worksheet.
- 02Check one letter
If one cell looks off, open the Letters sheet and tap that letter. Faster than hunting through a long PDF.
- 03Quiz if you want
A short drill the same day helps more than staring at a chart. Skip it if you only needed a quick convert.
Other sheets in this workbook
Alphabet, numbers, quiz, Unicode, learn paths — all under the converter.
- 02Letters A–ZTap a cell. Copy Unicode. Check one letter without a PDF.
- 03DigitsNumber sign + a–j. The pairing that trips everyone once.
- 04MarksPeriod, comma, question mark, and other classroom punctuation.
- 05DrillTen questions. Cell to letter, or letter to cell.
- 06Grade 1 notesWhat uncontracted means — and what this workbook refuses to fake.
- 07Unicode brailleU+2800–U+28FF patterns you can generate and copy.
- 08ASCII brailleComputer braille lookup — not ASCII art.
- 09How to readSix-dot layout for beginners. Not a certificate course.
- 10Learn pathA starter order: convert → letters → drill → notes.
- 11For teachersFive-minute classroom demos. No LMS login.
- 12Nemeth introOrientation only — not a full math engine.
Why this site
Simple reasons people come back, not a brand speech.
The tool is up top
A lot of braille pages bury the converter under ads, or send you to a PDF. Here you can paste and copy before you scroll.
Charts you can click
Letters and digits are real cells on screen: dots, numbers, Unicode. Good for checking one character without printing anything.
Quiz on the same site
If you want a quick drill after looking something up, it is here. No new app, no account wall.
Who uses it
Rough fit. Pick what matches why you opened the tab.
First letters and the number sign. Convert a word, tap the chart, try a round of questions.
Short classroom demos. No install, no new poster every week.
Parents or siblings who want a simple browser tool, not a clinic site.
Need Unicode braille for a label or slide? Convert, copy, leave.
Grade 1, in plain terms
A braille cell has six dots in two columns of three. In English Grade 1, letters a–z each have a fixed pattern. Capitals use a marker. Digits reuse a–j after the number sign. That covers labels, class examples, and beginner practice. That is also the scope of this site.
Output is Unicode Braille Patterns so you can paste into normal documents. There are also dot-number and ASCII views if you need them. We do not claim full UEB Grade 2, vision rehab results, or certified book transcription.
If you need a formal course, use one. If you want a browser tool with no login, start with the converter above, then Letters or Drill from the sheet list. Mapping details and limits are under Methodology in the footer.
Common questions
Short answers. If you need a certificate, this is the wrong site.
What is Grade 1 vs Grade 2 braille?
Grade 1 (uncontracted) is mostly one cell per letter, plus simple markers for capitals and numbers. Grade 2 adds contractions. We only do Grade 1. If a printed book looks shorter than our output, that book is probably contracted braille.
Does my text leave this device?
No. Convert, charts, and quizzes run in the browser. We do not ask you to sign up, and we do not upload your paste to convert it. Like any site, the host may log normal request data (IP, path). Your braille text stays local.
Unicode braille vs ASCII braille — which should I copy?
For slides and most documents, copy Unicode (the default view). ASCII braille is an older computer mapping. Use that view only if something else asks for it. Neither one is ASCII art.
Why do numbers look like letters?
In Grade 1, digits reuse a–j after a number sign (dots 3-4-5-6, ⠼). So 1 is number sign + a, and 0 is number sign + j. Without the number sign, those cells are letters. The Digits sheet shows the pairing.
Can I translate braille from a photo?
No. We do not do camera or image OCR. Type English, or paste Unicode cells.
Can teachers use this in class?
Yes for a quick demo or a short warm-up. It does not replace a braille teacher, tactile practice, or any formal course.
Is my quiz score saved online?
No. The score is for the current round in this browser. Theme choice may be stored locally. There is no account and no cloud progress file.
Do you support full UEB Grade 2?
No. A small web page should not pretend to be a full contracted engine. Use proper transcription tools when you need Grade 2.
Is this vision-care or a certificate?
Neither. This is a Grade 1 practice and convert tool. It does not give medical advice and it does not certify transcription work.
Will you add Chinese, Nemeth, or eight-dot braille?
Right now the core tool is English Grade 1 six-dot cells. We may add small reference pages later. Do not expect a full math or multi-language engine from this site.
Learning and conversion tool only. Grade 1 (uncontracted) English braille. Not vision-care, not a transcription certificate, not a substitute for a qualified braille teacher.