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Learn the Basics

Intro to Braille

Braille is a tactile reading system that opens doors to literacy for millions. In 5 minutes, you’ll understand the history, explore the 6-dot cell, and interact with the full A–Z alphabet.

What Is Braille?

Braille is a tactile writing system used by people who are blind or visually impaired. It was created by Louis Braille in 1824 when he was just 15 years old, while studying at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris. Louis lost his sight at age 3 after an accident in his father's workshop.

15Years OldLouis Braille's age when he invented the system

1824: Louis adapted Charles Barbier's military “night writing” system into the elegant 6-dot code we know today.

Each braille character is formed within a cell of 6 dots arranged in a 3-row, 2-column matrix — giving 64 possible combinations including the blank cell. This compact system can represent letters, numbers, punctuation, and even music notation.

64CombinationsPossible patterns from a single 6-dot cell

The Braille Cell

Every braille character lives inside a cell of six dot positions. The left column holds dots 1, 2, 3 (top to bottom) and the right column holds dots 4, 5, 6. Different combinations of raised dots form each letter, number, or symbol.

Explore

The A–Z Alphabet

Tap any letter to see its braille dot pattern up close.

Why Braille Matters

Braille is far more than a code — it’s a gateway to literacy, independence, and opportunity for millions of people around the world.

39M+Blind Peopleworldwide, with over 250 million experiencing vision impairment
90%Employmentof braille-literate adults are employed, compared to roughly 30% of non-readers
133Languageshave braille codes adapted for their writing system

Braille is knowledge, and knowledge is power. — Louis Braille. From reading medication labels and elevator buttons to using refreshable braille displays with computers and smartphones — braille remains essential for daily independence and professional success.

Grades of Braille

There are two main grades of braille. Grade 1 spells out every word letter by letter — just like the alphabet you explored above. Grade 2 uses contractions and abbreviations to save space and speed up reading.

Grade 1

Uncontracted — letter for letter

T
H
E
3 cells

Grade 2

Contracted — one cell for the whole word

THE
1 cell

Grade 2 is the standard for published braille. It includes 180+ contractions that experienced readers recognize instantly. Here are a few common ones:

AND
FOR
OF
THE
WITH

Numbers in Braille

Braille cleverly reuses letter patterns for numbers. A special number indicator tells the reader that the following characters are digits, not letters. Tap any number below to see how it works.

Number Indicator (dots 3, 4, 5, 6) tells the reader: the next character is a number. Numbers 1–9 reuse the patterns for letters A–I, and 0 uses J.

What’s Next?

Keep Going

Practice with Games

Free interactive activities — Word Game, Dot Explorer, Hangman, and more. No account needed.

Take the Course

8-week remote braille course, Summer 2026. Live instruction with personalized feedback.