Braille Translator

Braille Translator: Text to Braille and Back

This braille translator converts English text into Grade 1 Unified English Braille (UEB) and decodes braille back into text. Type or paste in one panel and the translation appears instantly in the other, with a visual six-dot pattern shown for every braille cell.

It is built for students learning the braille alphabet, teachers and parents preparing labels or worksheets, and anyone who needs a quick, accurate look at how words, numbers, and punctuation map to raised-dot patterns. A complete reference chart for letters A–Z, numbers 0–9, and common punctuation stays on the page for easy lookup.

Private by design: every translation runs entirely in your browser. Your text is never uploaded to a server, and nothing you type is stored or tracked.

How to Use the Braille Translator

Pick a direction

Text to Braille is active by default. Click Braille to Text to decode braille instead.

Type or paste your input

Enter text in the left panel, or paste braille Unicode characters (range U+2800–U+28FF) when decoding. The translation updates in the right panel as you type.

Read the dot patterns

Below the panels, a visual display shows the six-dot cell for each braille character so you can see exactly which dots are raised.

Swap, copy, or clear

Use the Swap button to reverse direction and move the current output into the input. Use the Copy icon to copy the result, and the Clear (trash) icon to start over.

Features

Two-Way Translation

Convert text to Grade 1 UEB braille, or decode braille Unicode back into English text, all in one tool.

Capital Indicator Support

Uppercase letters are correctly preceded by the UEB capital indicator (⠠, dot 6).

Number Indicator

Digit sequences are prefixed with the number indicator (⠼), reusing the A–J patterns for 1–0.

Multi-Cell Punctuation

Parentheses and quotation marks follow the UEB two-cell rules, alongside common single-cell marks.

Visual Dot Display

Each character renders as a six-dot cell (two columns of three), with raised dots highlighted so patterns are easy to learn.

Reference Chart

A built-in chart shows the braille pattern for every letter, number, and punctuation mark, always visible for quick lookup.

Real-Time Output

Translations appear as you type, with a light debounce that keeps typing smooth even on long passages.

Private & Offline-Friendly

All processing happens in your browser with no uploads and no tracking, so your text stays on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does this braille translator work?

It maps each character to its Grade 1 UEB braille cell. As you type, the tool builds the braille string, inserting capital and number indicators where needed, and shows the matching six-dot pattern for every cell. Decoding works in reverse, reading braille Unicode back into letters, numbers, and punctuation.

What is Grade 1 braille?

Grade 1 braille is a letter-by-letter transcription where each printed character maps to a specific braille cell. It is the simplest form of braille and is commonly used for labels, signs, and by people learning braille for the first time.

What is the difference between Grade 1 and Grade 2 (contracted) braille?

Grade 1 translates each character individually, while Grade 2 uses contractions and shorthand for common words and letter groups (such as "the", "and", and "for"). Grade 2 is used in most published braille books. This translator uses Grade 1 for clarity and predictability, which makes it ideal for learning.

How are numbers written in braille?

Numbers 1–9 and 0 reuse the same dot patterns as letters A–J. A number indicator (⠼) is placed before a run of digits to signal that the following cells should be read as numbers rather than letters.

How are capital letters handled?

A capital indicator (⠠, dot 6) is placed immediately before a letter to mark it as uppercase. In Grade 1 braille each capital letter gets its own indicator.

Can I convert braille back to text?

Yes. Switch to Braille to Text mode and paste braille Unicode characters (range U+2800 to U+28FF) into the input panel. You can use braille copied from this tool's own output or from any source that uses braille Unicode symbols.

Can I translate languages other than English?

The translator follows the Unified English Braille (UEB) standard for English text. Characters outside the English alphabet, numbers, and supported punctuation are passed through unchanged rather than transcribed.

Is the braille translator free and private?

Yes. It runs entirely in your browser at no cost, with no sign-up. Your text is never sent to a server, stored, or tracked.