What are the Braille Alphabet?

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What are the Braille Alphabet?

The Braille alphabet is a tactile writing system that allows people with visual impairment to read and write through touch instead of sight.
It was invented in 1824 by Louis Braille, a French educator who lost his vision in childhood. His system transformed education, independence, and communication for blind individuals worldwide.

How Braille Works

Braille characters are formed using a cell of six raised dots arranged in two vertical columns of three dots each.

Dots are numbered:

Different combinations of raised dots represent different letters.

Basic Pattern Rule

The alphabet follows a logical pattern:

First 10 letters (A–J): use top four dots
Next 10 (K–T): same patterns + dot 3
Last letters (U–Z): same patterns + dots 3 and 6 (with W exception)

Numbers in Braille

Numbers use the same symbols as letters A–J, but are preceded by a number sign (⠼).

Number	Braille Letter Used
1	A
2	B
3	C
4	D
5	E
6	F
7	G
8	H
9	I
0	J

Example:
⠼⠁ = 1
⠼⠉ = 3

Punctuation Examples

Symbol	Braille
Period	⠲
Comma	⠂
Question mark	⠦
Capital sign	⠠

Capital letters are written by placing a capital indicator before the letter.

Grades of Braille

Grade 1 (Uncontracted)

Each letter written separately — used for beginners and children.

Grade 2 (Contracted Braille)

Common words shortened into symbols to increase reading speed.
Example: “the”, “and”, “for” have single-cell signs.

Grade 3

Personal shorthand, rarely standardized.

How People Read Braille

Readers gently move their fingertips from left to right across raised dots.
Experienced readers can reach reading speeds similar to print readers because the brain interprets patterns, not individual dots.