W is the exception because French braille, where the system began, did not use it. Learn the first ten letters and the rest follow the pattern. The chart below prints cleanly on one page.
How braille works
A braille cell is a grid of six dot positions, two columns of three. Dots are numbered 1, 2 and 3 down the left column and 4, 5 and 6 down the right. Each letter, number and punctuation mark is a pattern of raised dots in that grid. The first ten letters, a to j, use only dots 1, 2, 4 and 5. Adding dot 3 to each of those gives k to t, and adding dots 3 and 6 gives u, v, x, y and z. W, dots 2, 4, 5 and 6, was added later.
Because there are only 63 possible patterns, braille uses indicators that change the meaning of the cells that follow. The capital sign, dot 6, makes the next letter a capital; two capital signs make the whole word capitals. The number sign, dots 3, 4, 5 and 6, makes a to j mean 1 to 0 until the next space. A grade 1 indicator, dots 5 and 6, switches back to letters when a letter follows a number.
Using the translator
In Text → Braille mode, everything you type appears below as Unicode braille, which you can copy, and as drawn cells with the source character beneath each one. Indicator cells are marked ⇧ for capitals and # for numbers so you can see why they are there. Characters with no uncontracted braille equivalent are listed and passed through unchanged. Use the slider to make the dots bigger for teaching or printing.
In Braille → Text mode, paste Unicode braille or build cells on the six-button dot pad. Practice mode shows random letters for you to identify and keeps a running score.
Grade 1 and Grade 2
BrailleKit produces uncontracted braille. Most books and signs for experienced readers use contracted braille, Grade 2, where common words and letter groups such as “and”, “the” and “ing” have their own cells. For official signage and documents, have braille produced and checked by a certified transcriber.
Private by design
BrailleKit has no accounts and no server. Translation runs in your browser and nothing you type is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
How many letters are in the braille alphabet?
The same 26 as English, each made of one to five raised dots in a six-dot cell.
Why is w different?
Louis Braille designed the code for French, which did not use w. It was added later with dots 2456.
How long does it take to learn?
Many sighted learners can recognise the alphabet visually within a few days of short practice.
Is BrailleKit free?
Yes. Translation, the chart and practice are free with no sign-up.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. Translation happens in your browser and your last text is saved only on this device.