Braille Translator

What this tool does

Type or paste English text and it converts to uncontracted (Grade 1) Braille using standard Unicode Braille patterns — letters, digits, capital letters, and common punctuation all get their own cell. Flip the direction with the swap button and it decodes Braille back into readable text, too.

Who it's for

Teachers and parents introducing a sighted child to Braille, students studying accessibility or assistive technology, developers who need a quick reference for the Unicode Braille block, and anyone labeling something for a blind or low-vision reader who wants a fast, no-signup way to generate accurate Braille characters.

How to use it

• Type or paste text into the left box — the Braille translation appears on the right as you type.
• Click the swap arrow to flip directions and decode Braille cells back into plain text instead.
• Capital letters get a capital indicator (⠠) automatically, and runs of digits get a numeric indicator (⠼) so numbers don't get mistaken for letters.
• Use Copy Result to grab the output, or check the reference grid below for the full a–z Braille alphabet at a glance.

Real-world uses

Generating text for a Braille label maker or embosser, checking your own transcription homework, building a simple accessibility demo, or just satisfying curiosity about what a word looks like in Braille.

Frequently asked questions

Is this Grade 1 or Grade 2 Braille?

Grade 1 (uncontracted) Braille, where every letter, digit, and punctuation mark gets its own cell. Grade 2 adds hundreds of contractions (like a single cell standing in for "the" or "ing") that vary by context and language, which is why most online translators, this one included, stick to the more predictable Grade 1 system.

Why do numbers show a different symbol first?

Braille reuses the same cells for letters a–j and digits 1–9 and 0. A numeric indicator (⠼) is placed before a run of digits to tell the reader "what follows is a number, not letters" — without it, "123" would be indistinguishable from "abc."

Can I convert Braille back into regular text?

Yes — click the swap button to switch the tool into Braille-to-text mode, then paste Braille cells into the input box to decode them.

Does it support languages other than English?

Not yet — this tool covers the standard English Braille alphabet, digits, and punctuation. Braille codes for other languages use different contraction and accent rules.

Why do some punctuation marks look approximate?

A handful of punctuation symbols (like quotation marks) vary slightly between Braille codes and regions. This tool uses the most commonly published Grade 1 values, which cover the vast majority of everyday text.