Braille Keyboard

What Is a Braille Keyboard?

A braille keyboard is an input device used to write braille, the tactile writing system read by people who are blind or have low vision. The most common design is the Perkins-style six-key keyboard, which mirrors a braille typewriter: it has one key for each of the six dots of the braille cell, plus a space bar. Because every braille character is simply a combination of those six dots, this small set of keys can produce the entire alphabet, numbers, and punctuation.

Braille keyboards come in several forms. Physical braille keyboards (standalone or attached to notetakers and computers) provide tactile keys you press in combinations. Software braille keyboards put the same six-key layout on smartphone and tablet screens for on-screen typing. Many braille users also pair a braille keyboard with a refreshable braille display, which raises small pins to form characters so they can read what is on the screen.

The Braille Cell and Dot Numbering

Braille is built from the braille cell: a rectangle with two columns and three rows. The dots are numbered so they can be described and taught without needing to draw them:

• Dots 1, 2, and 3 run down the left column, from top to bottom.
• Dots 4, 5, and 6 run down the right column, from top to bottom.

For example, the letter a is dot 1, the letter b is dots 1 and 2, and the letter h is dots 1, 2, and 5. Describing characters by their dot numbers is the standard way braille is taught and written down on paper before being punched into a page.

How Six-Key Braille Typing Works

To type on a six-key braille keyboard you press the keys for the required dots at the same time, then release. The combination of pressed keys is interpreted as one character:

• k = dots 1 and 3 pressed together
• f = dots 1, 2, and 4 pressed together
• w = dots 2, 4, 5, and 6 pressed together
• space separates words and leaves a blank cell
• number sign (dots 3-4-5-6) before a letter turns it into a digit

The Perkins Brailler, invented in 1951, is the classic mechanical machine that popularized this layout, and most electronic braille notetakers keep the same six-key arrangement.

Numbers in Braille

Braille has no separate symbols for digits. Instead, the number sign (dots 3-4-5-6) is written first, and then the letters a through j stand for the digits 1 through 9 and 0: a = 1, b = 2, c = 3, d = 4, e = 5, f = 6, g = 7, h = 8, i = 9, and j = 0. For example, "24" is written as the number sign followed by the braille letters b (2) and d (4).

Grade 1 and Grade 2 Braille

Grade 1 (uncontracted) braille writes every word letter by letter — every word has exactly the same number of cells as it has letters. It is the easiest form to learn and is used for labels, beginning instruction, and language learners. Grade 2 (contracted) braille uses contractions, short forms for common words and letter sequences (for example, "and", "the", "for", "tion"), which saves space and speeds up reading. Most published books and magazines use Grade 2 braille. The translator on this page produces Grade 1 braille so each character is easy to read and copy.

Braille Keyboards on Computers and Phones

You do not need a dedicated device to start typing braille. On smartphones and tablets, screen readers such as TalkBack and VoiceOver include built-in software braille keyboards that place the six dots on the touch screen. On a standard QWERTY computer keyboard, some braille input utilities and screen readers let you type six-key braille chords by mapping the dots to regular letter keys. Standalone USB or Bluetooth braille keyboards connect directly to computers, phones, and braille notetakers, and they pair naturally with refreshable braille displays for full read-and-write access.

A Short History of Braille

Braille was invented by Louis Braille, a Frenchman who lost his sight at the age of three. When he was a student at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, he learned about a military "night writing" code of raised dots used by soldiers to communicate in the dark. In 1824, at just fifteen years old, he simplified the idea into the compact six-dot cell we use today, and he published his system in 1829. Because each of the six dots can be raised or flat, the cell allows 64 possible combinations (2 raised to the 6th power) — plenty for letters, numbers, punctuation, and contractions.

Using This Braille Keyboard

This page gives you three ways to work with braille:

• Six-key typewriter — toggle dots 1–6 to build any cell and insert it, just like a real Perkins braille keyboard.
• Braille layout grid — tap any letter, number, or punctuation cell to copy its Unicode braille character.
• English-to-braille translator — type ordinary text and instantly see (and copy) its Grade 1 braille translation, complete with capital signs and the number sign.

All braille characters are standard Unicode braille patterns (U+2800–U+283F), so whatever you copy will display correctly in documents, emails, and messaging apps. To learn more about writing braille, visit our math symbol keyboard, the About & How It Works page, or explore our other Greek letters keyboard and French accents keyboard.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a braille keyboard?

A braille keyboard is an input device designed for writing braille. The classic Perkins-style braille keyboard has six keys, one for each of the six dots of the braille cell, plus a space bar. Pressing several keys at the same time forms a character.

How many keys does a braille keyboard have?

A standard six-key braille keyboard has six dot keys (numbered 1 to 6) plus a space bar, and often backspace and enter keys. Because every braille character is a combination of the six dots, these keys can produce the entire braille alphabet.

How do you type braille with a six-key keyboard?

You press the dot keys for the dots you need at the same time. For example, the letter "k" is dots 1 and 3, the letter "h" is dots 1-2-5, and "w" is dots 2-4-5-6. A space bar separates words and the number sign (dots 3-4-5-6) introduces numbers.

How are the six braille dots numbered?

The braille cell is a rectangle with two columns and three rows. Dots 1, 2, and 3 run down the left column from top to bottom, and dots 4, 5, and 6 run down the right column from top to bottom.

What is the difference between Grade 1 and Grade 2 braille?

Grade 1 (uncontracted) braille spells out every word letter by letter. Grade 2 (contracted) braille uses abbreviations and contractions to save space and speed up reading. Grade 2 is the standard used for most published material.

How do you write numbers in braille?

Numbers use the number sign (dots 3-4-5-6) followed by the letters a through j: a is 1, b is 2, c is 3, d is 4, e is 5, f is 6, g is 7, h is 8, i is 9, and j is 0.

What is a braille display?

A refreshable braille display is an output device with small pins that rise to form braille characters. It lets a blind or low-vision user read computer screen text in braille, and it is often paired with a braille keyboard for writing.

Can I type braille on a normal QWERTY keyboard?

Yes. Some screen readers and braille input utilities map the six braille dots to regular keys so you can type braille chords on a standard keyboard. You can also use software braille keyboards on smartphones and tablets.

Who invented braille?

Braille was invented by Louis Braille, a Frenchman who lost his sight in childhood. He adapted a military code into the six-dot braille system in 1824 when he was fifteen and published his system in 1829.

Is braille the same in every language?

The basic six-dot cell is universal, but the meaning of each combination is assigned per language. English, French, German, Arabic, and other languages each have their own braille codes, and literary, math, and music braille codes differ too.