Workbook sheet · Braille translator
Braille translator for Grade 1 text and cells
Type English and get Grade 1 (uncontracted) braille as Unicode you can copy. Paste braille cells the other way to read them as text. This page covers both directions. We only do Grade 1. Full Grade 2 contracted braille is a different kind of tool.
Worked examples
Text: hi
→ Braille: ⠓⠊ (dots 1-2-5 / 2-4)
Copy Unicode from the console.
Braille: ⠁⠃⠉
→ Text: abc
Questions on this sheet
Is this the same as a braille converter?
Yes. Encode and decode share this page.
Does my text leave the device?
No. Translation runs locally.
Do you support Grade 2?
No full engine. We focus on Grade 1.
Can I translate from a photo?
No. No camera or OCR here.
Watch for these
- Grade 2 contractions will not expand here. If a printed word looks shorter than our output, that book is probably contracted braille.
- Random emoji or eight-dot cells may be skipped. Stick to six-dot Unicode.
- Braille ASCII is a computer mapping, not ASCII art. Use that view only if you need it.
How this sheet works
Encode maps each supported character to a six-dot cell (and markers where needed). Decode reads Unicode braille cells back to characters. Heavy work runs in a Web Worker so the page stays usable. Nothing is uploaded.
Assumptions
English Grade 1 mapping for letters, digits (with the number sign), and common punctuation. Default output is Unicode Braille Patterns (U+2800–U+28FF). Capital and number markers follow simple Grade 1 rules for learning, not a full UEB production setup.
Use when
Checking a short label or class example. Making Unicode braille for a slide. Reading a pasted cell string. Comparing Unicode, dot numbers, and ASCII views.
Skip when
Do not use this for certified book transcription or medical advice. For letter drills, use alphabet or practice. Photo OCR is not supported.
Nearby sheets
Continue
Learning and conversion tool only. Grade 1 (uncontracted) English braille. Not vision-care, not certification.