What is Braille?
Braille is a tactile reading and writing system used by blind and vision impaired people, primarily made up of six dots.
But Braille isn’t just one code?
There are many different forms of Braille depending on what you’re doing, whether it’s reading and writing, maths and science, music, computing, and even tactile art.
It’s a flexible system with multiple versions; each designed for a specific purpose.
Here’s a quick guide to some of the most common types of Braille.
How do I begin learning Braille?
Grade 1 Braille is where most people start. It’s simple and easy to follow: every letter, number, and punctuation mark is written out individually with no shortcuts or abbreviations.
For example, the word can is written as:
C = dots 1 and 4
A = dot 1
N = dots 1, 3, 4 and 5
It’s clear and straightforward, which makes it perfect for beginners, as well as for signs, labels, and places where clarity is key, such as fire exit doors or medication packaging.
Organisations such as the Braillist Foundation offer a range of resources for anyone interested in learning Braille.
How do I improve my skills in Braille?
More advanced versions of Braille use contractions, word and letter combinations, so it is quicker to write.
What is Grade 2 Braille?
Grade 2 Braille is commonly called Contracted Braille.
It uses contractions to represent common words or letter combinations. Instead of spelling everything out, specific dot patterns stand in for whole words. It’s faster, more efficient, and the most commonly used version for books and everyday reading.
For example:
- B = but
- C = can
- D = do
- E = every
- F = from
What are some things that people might not know about Braille?
There’s a short form for the word “blind” (Bl), and for Braille (Brl).
But not every contraction is predictable or as simple as you think…
For some strange reason, the short form for the word “it,” is the letter “x,” and “Z” for the word as…
Additionally, other symbols aren’t actual letters but make up whole words; for instance, dots 2-3-4-6 form the word “the”, dots 1-3-4-5-6 form the word “and”, and so on. We also have symbols for common letter combos, such as
- “ar” = dots 3-4-5
- dots 1-4-6 = “sh”
- dots 3-4-6 = “ing”
It does seem confusing when your first look at it, but once you’ve learned the contractions, Grade 2 Braille becomes much quicker and more natural to read.
How do I work with numbers in Braille?
Nemeth Code is Braille for Maths and Science
Literary Braille is great for reading, but when it comes to numbers and equations, it doesn’t quite work—there aren’t enough dot combinations for everything! That’s where Nemeth Code comes in.
Nemeth is a separate Braille system designed for maths and science. It includes symbols for:
- Numbers
- Fractions and decimals
- Algebra, calculus and geometry
- Scientific notation
It’s basically where some of the symbols from grade 2 mean something different. For instance, in grade 2, dots 3-4-5 stand for the letter combo “ar”, however in this context, they stand for closing parenthesis (used in algebra or functions).
Once you’ve established the mindset, Nemeth can be used alongside literary Braille, allowing readers to switch smoothly between text and maths.
It’s widely used in education and by professionals in STEM.
How do I make music in Braille?
Braille Music Notation – Reading Music by Touch uses the same six-dot cell structure, but again, with its own rules to represent:
- Notes and rests
- Time and key signatures
- Tempo, rhythm and dynamics
It allows blind and vision impaired musicians to read and learn music in an entirely accessible way.
Unlike print music, which is often read while playing, Braille music notation is usually memorised first, then performed. This is because it’s hard to play an instrument whilst following the score with your fingers.
Who is Clarke Reynolds, Braille Artist?
Braille is also being used in creative spaces, like tactile artwork. Some artists are bringing Braille into galleries and installations, turning the dots into both a language and a design element.
One example is our ambassador Clarke Reynolds, a vision impaired artist who uses Braille as a core part of his work—making pieces that are not only accessible, but also interactive and meaningful.
Read Clarke's story here.
Is Braille still relevant in the digital age?
When it comes to emails, web addresses, screen readers or coding, Braille needs to adapt. That’s where Computer Braille comes in.
Computer Braille is often based on Grade 1, but includes special symbols for things like:
- Email addresses
- URLs and file paths
- Programming syntax and punctuation
Some versions of Computer Braille use eight-dot cells instead of six. The two extra dots are added below the standard six-dot cell.
The 8-dot system helps:
- Distinguish between capital and lowercase letters
- Represent every character in the ASCII set
- Improve navigation and functionality on Braille displays and screen readers
It’s a practical upgrade that helps Braille keep up with the pace of digital communication.
Overall, Braille isn’t just one static code—it’s a flexible, evolving system that adapts to different needs.
Whether you’re reading a novel in Grade 2, solving equations with Nemeth, learning a new piece of music, exploring tactile art or typing out a web address, Braille can be used in all of these.
Interested in the history and other uses of Braille? Check out our article celebrating 200 years of Braille!
Read Darren’s story as to how he blends Braille with assistive technology.
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