Braille Patterns is the name of a range of characters in the Unicode encoding standard.

Braille writing uses a system of six or eight raised dots arranged in two vertical columns of three or four dots each. The six dot system allows 64 different patterns, and the eight dot system allows 256. There is no fixed correspondence between a dot pattern and a particular symbol or character in any script; rather, dot pattern assignments are dependent upon context and user community. A single pattern can represent a single character, an abbreviation or a short word.

ISO 11548-1 and ISO 11548-2 provide standardized correspondence tables as well as invocation sequences to indicate a context switch.

Unicode encodes a complete set of eight dot patterns, which includes all six dot patterns.

The character names for Braille patterns are based on the assignment of numbers to each of the eight dots like this :


1   ·   ·   4
2   ·   ·   5
3   ·   ·   6
7   ·   ·   8

Thus, if dots 2, 3 and 7 are raised, the name of the character is Braille pattern dots 237. These number are also the numbers of the bits (1 being least significant) used to create the byte by which they are ordered (in Unicode as well as ISO 11548-1).

NEWS FLASH : six dot braille uses dots one through six.

In the images for the characters below, block dots are intended to be rendered as tangible, and open circles are not. Unicode does not specify any physical dimension.


Unicode's Braille Patterns code block reserves the 256 code points from U+2800 to U+28FF, of which all 256 are currently assigned.

Supplemental Arrows A <-- Braille Patterns --> Supplemental Arrows B
When braille patterns are punched, the filled circles shown here correspond to punch impression.

All the characters in this code block were added in Unicode 3.0

All the characters in this code block are in general category Symbol, Other So

All the characters in this code block are in bidirectional category Left To Right L

The columns below should be interpreted as :

  1. The Unicode code for the character
  2. The character in question
  3. The Unicode name for the character

If the characters below show up poorly, or not at all, see Unicode Support for possible solutions.

 

Braille Patterns

     Braille patterns

U+2800   ⠀   Braille pattern blank
* while this character is imaged as a fixed-width blank in many fonts, it does not act as a space
U+2801   ⠁   Braille pattern dots 1
U+2802   ⠂   Braille pattern dots 2
U+2803   ⠃   Braille pattern dots 12
U+2804   ⠄   Braille pattern dots 3
U+2805   ⠅   Braille pattern dots 13
U+2806   ⠆   Braille pattern dots 23
U+2807   ⠇   Braille pattern dots 123
U+2808   ⠈   Braille pattern dots 4
U+2809   ⠉   Braille pattern dots 14
U+280A   ⠊   Braille pattern dots 24
U+280B   ⠋   Braille pattern dots 124
U+280C   ⠌   Braille pattern dots 34
U+280D   ⠍   Braille pattern dots 134
U+280E   ⠎   Braille pattern dots 234
U+280F   ⠏   Braille pattern dots 1234
U+2810   ⠐   Braille pattern dots 5
U+2811   ⠑   Braille pattern dots 15
U+2812   ⠒   Braille pattern dots 25
U+2813   ⠓   Braille pattern dots 125
U+2814   ⠔   Braille pattern dots 35
U+2815   ⠕   Braille pattern dots 135
U+2816   ⠖   Braille pattern dots 235
U+2817   ⠗   Braille pattern dots 1235
U+2818   ⠘   Braille pattern dots 45
U+2819   ⠙   Braille pattern dots 145
U+281A   ⠚   Braille pattern dots 245
U+281B   ⠛   Braille pattern dots 1245
U+281C   ⠜   Braille pattern dots 345
U+281D   ⠝   Braille pattern dots 1345
U+281E   ⠞   Braille pattern dots 2345
U+281F   ⠟   Braille pattern dots 12345
U+2820   ⠠   Braille pattern dots 6
U+2821   ⠡   Braille pattern dots 16
U+2822   ⠢   Braille pattern dots 26
U+2823   ⠣   Braille pattern dots 126
U+2824   ⠤   Braille pattern dots 36
U+2825   ⠥   Braille pattern dots 136
U+2826   ⠦   Braille pattern dots 236
U+2827   ⠧   Braille pattern dots 1236
U+2828   ⠨   Braille pattern dots 46
U+2829   ⠩   Braille pattern dots 146
U+282A   ⠪   Braille pattern dots 246
U+282B   ⠫   Braille pattern dots 1246
U+282C   ⠬   Braille pattern dots 346
U+282D   ⠭   Braille pattern dots 1346
U+282E   ⠮   Braille pattern dots 2346
U+282F   ⠯   Braille pattern dots 12346
U+2830   ⠰   Braille pattern dots 56
U+2831   ⠱   Braille pattern dots 156
U+2832   ⠲   Braille pattern dots 256
U+2833   ⠳   Braille pattern dots 1256
U+2834   ⠴   Braille pattern dots 356
U+2835   ⠵   Braille pattern dots 1356
U+2836   ⠶   Braille pattern dots 2356
U+2837   ⠷   Braille pattern dots 12356
U+2838   ⠸   Braille pattern dots 456
U+2839   ⠹   Braille pattern dots 1456
U+283A   ⠺   Braille pattern dots 2456
U+283B   ⠻   Braille pattern dots 12456
U+283C   ⠼   Braille pattern dots 3456
U+283D   ⠽   Braille pattern dots 13456
U+283E   ⠾   Braille pattern dots 23456
U+283F   ⠿   Braille pattern dots 123456
U+2840   ⡀   Braille pattern dots 7
U+2841   ⡁   Braille pattern dots 17
U+2842   ⡂   Braille pattern dots 27
U+2843   ⡃   Braille pattern dots 127
U+2844   ⡄   Braille pattern dots 37
U+2845   ⡅   Braille pattern dots 137
U+2846   ⡆   Braille pattern dots 237
U+2847   ⡇   Braille pattern dots 1237
U+2848   ⡈   Braille pattern dots 47
U+2849   ⡉   Braille pattern dots 147
U+284A   ⡊   Braille pattern dots 247
U+284B   ⡋   Braille pattern dots 1247
U+284C   ⡌   Braille pattern dots 347
U+284D   ⡍   Braille pattern dots 1347
U+284E   ⡎   Braille pattern dots 2347
U+284F   ⡏   Braille pattern dots 12347
U+2850   ⡐   Braille pattern dots 57
U+2851   ⡑   Braille pattern dots 157
U+2852   ⡒   Braille pattern dots 257
U+2853   ⡓   Braille pattern dots 1257
U+2854   ⡔   Braille pattern dots 357
U+2855   ⡕   Braille pattern dots 1357
U+2856   ⡖   Braille pattern dots 2357
U+2857   ⡗   Braille pattern dots 12357
U+2858   ⡘   Braille pattern dots 457
U+2859   ⡙   Braille pattern dots 1457
U+285A   ⡚   Braille pattern dots 2457
U+285B   ⡛   Braille pattern dots 12457
U+285C   ⡜   Braille pattern dots 3457
U+285D   ⡝   Braille pattern dots 13457
U+285E   ⡞   Braille pattern dots 23457
U+285F   ⡟   Braille pattern dots 123457
U+2860   ⡠   Braille pattern dots 67
U+2861   ⡡   Braille pattern dots 167
U+2862   ⡢   Braille pattern dots 267
U+2863   ⡣   Braille pattern dots 1267
U+2864   ⡤   Braille pattern dots 367
U+2865   ⡥   Braille pattern dots 1367
U+2866   ⡦   Braille pattern dots 2367
U+2867   ⡧   Braille pattern dots 12367
U+2868   ⡨   Braille pattern dots 467
U+2869   ⡩   Braille pattern dots 1467
U+286A   ⡪   Braille pattern dots 2467
U+286B   ⡫   Braille pattern dots 12467
U+286C   ⡬   Braille pattern dots 3467
U+286D   ⡭   Braille pattern dots 13467
U+286E   ⡮   Braille pattern dots 23467
U+286F   ⡯   Braille pattern dots 123467
U+2870   ⡰   Braille pattern dots 567
U+2871   ⡱   Braille pattern dots 1567
U+2872   ⡲   Braille pattern dots 2567
U+2873   ⡳   Braille pattern dots 12567
U+2874   ⡴   Braille pattern dots 3567
U+2875   ⡵   Braille pattern dots 13567
U+2876   ⡶   Braille pattern dots 23567
U+2877   ⡷   Braille pattern dots 123567
U+2878   ⡸   Braille pattern dots 4567
U+2879   ⡹   Braille pattern dots 14567
U+287A   ⡺   Braille pattern dots 24567
U+287B   ⡻   Braille pattern dots 124567
U+287C   ⡼   Braille pattern dots 34567
U+287D   ⡽   Braille pattern dots 134567
U+287E   ⡾   Braille pattern dots 234567
U+287F   ⡿   Braille pattern dots 1234567
U+2880   ⢀   Braille pattern dots 8
U+2881   ⢁   Braille pattern dots 18
U+2882   ⢂   Braille pattern dots 28
U+2883   ⢃   Braille pattern dots 128
U+2884   ⢄   Braille pattern dots 38
U+2885   ⢅   Braille pattern dots 138
U+2886   ⢆   Braille pattern dots 238
U+2887   ⢇   Braille pattern dots 1238
U+2888   ⢈   Braille pattern dots 48
U+2889   ⢉   Braille pattern dots 148
U+288A   ⢊   Braille pattern dots 248
U+288B   ⢋   Braille pattern dots 1248
U+288C   ⢌   Braille pattern dots 348
U+288D   ⢍   Braille pattern dots 1348
U+288E   ⢎   Braille pattern dots 2348
U+288F   ⢏   Braille pattern dots 12348
U+2890   ⢐   Braille pattern dots 58
U+2891   ⢑   Braille pattern dots 158
U+2892   ⢒   Braille pattern dots 258
U+2893   ⢓   Braille pattern dots 1258
U+2894   ⢔   Braille pattern dots 358
U+2895   ⢕   Braille pattern dots 1358
U+2896   ⢖   Braille pattern dots 2358
U+2897   ⢗   Braille pattern dots 12358
U+2898   ⢘   Braille pattern dots 458
U+2899   ⢙   Braille pattern dots 1458
U+289A   ⢚   Braille pattern dots 2458
U+289B   ⢛   Braille pattern dots 12458
U+289C   ⢜   Braille pattern dots 3458
U+289D   ⢝   Braille pattern dots 13458
U+289E   ⢞   Braille pattern dots 23458
U+289F   ⢟   Braille pattern dots 123458
U+28A0   ⢠   Braille pattern dots 68
U+28A1   ⢡   Braille pattern dots 168
U+28A2   ⢢   Braille pattern dots 268
U+28A3   ⢣   Braille pattern dots 1268
U+28A4   ⢤   Braille pattern dots 368
U+28A5   ⢥   Braille pattern dots 1368
U+28A6   ⢦   Braille pattern dots 2368
U+28A7   ⢧   Braille pattern dots 12368
U+28A8   ⢨   Braille pattern dots 468
U+28A9   ⢩   Braille pattern dots 1468
U+28AA   ⢪   Braille pattern dots 2468
U+28AB   ⢫   Braille pattern dots 12468
U+28AC   ⢬   Braille pattern dots 3468
U+28AD   ⢭   Braille pattern dots 13468
U+28AE   ⢮   Braille pattern dots 23468
U+28AF   ⢯   Braille pattern dots 123468
U+28B0   ⢰   Braille pattern dots 568
U+28B1   ⢱   Braille pattern dots 1568
U+28B2   ⢲   Braille pattern dots 2568
U+28B3   ⢳   Braille pattern dots 12568
U+28B4   ⢴   Braille pattern dots 3568
U+28B5   ⢵   Braille pattern dots 13568
U+28B6   ⢶   Braille pattern dots 23568
U+28B7   ⢷   Braille pattern dots 123568
U+28B8   ⢸   Braille pattern dots 4568
U+28B9   ⢹   Braille pattern dots 14568
U+28BA   ⢺   Braille pattern dots 24568
U+28BB   ⢻   Braille pattern dots 124568
U+28BC   ⢼   Braille pattern dots 34568
U+28BD   ⢽   Braille pattern dots 134568
U+28BE   ⢾   Braille pattern dots 234568
U+28BF   ⢿   Braille pattern dots 1234568
U+28C0   ⣀   Braille pattern dots 78
U+28C1   ⣁   Braille pattern dots 178
U+28C2   ⣂   Braille pattern dots 278
U+28C3   ⣃   Braille pattern dots 1278
U+28C4   ⣄   Braille pattern dots 378
U+28C5   ⣅   Braille pattern dots 1378
U+28C6   ⣆   Braille pattern dots 2378
U+28C7   ⣇   Braille pattern dots 12378
U+28C8   ⣈   Braille pattern dots 478
U+28C9   ⣉   Braille pattern dots 1478
U+28CA   ⣊   Braille pattern dots 2478
U+28CB   ⣋   Braille pattern dots 12478
U+28CC   ⣌   Braille pattern dots 3478
U+28CD   ⣍   Braille pattern dots 13478
U+28CE   ⣎   Braille pattern dots 23478
U+28CF   ⣏   Braille pattern dots 123478
U+28D0   ⣐   Braille pattern dots 578
U+28D1   ⣑   Braille pattern dots 1578
U+28D2   ⣒   Braille pattern dots 2578
U+28D3   ⣓   Braille pattern dots 12578
U+28D4   ⣔   Braille pattern dots 3578
U+28D5   ⣕   Braille pattern dots 13578
U+28D6   ⣖   Braille pattern dots 23578
U+28D7   ⣗   Braille pattern dots 123578
U+28D8   ⣘   Braille pattern dots 4578
U+28D9   ⣙   Braille pattern dots 14578
U+28DA   ⣚   Braille pattern dots 24578
U+28DB   ⣛   Braille pattern dots 124578
U+28DC   ⣜   Braille pattern dots 34578
U+28DD   ⣝   Braille pattern dots 134578
U+28DE   ⣞   Braille pattern dots 234578
U+28DF   ⣟   Braille pattern dots 1234578
U+28E0   ⣠   Braille pattern dots 678
U+28E1   ⣡   Braille pattern dots 1678
U+28E2   ⣢   Braille pattern dots 2678
U+28E3   ⣣   Braille pattern dots 12678
U+28E4   ⣤   Braille pattern dots 3678
U+28E5   ⣥   Braille pattern dots 13678
U+28E6   ⣦   Braille pattern dots 23678
U+28E7   ⣧   Braille pattern dots 123678
U+28E8   ⣨   Braille pattern dots 4678
U+28E9   ⣩   Braille pattern dots 14678
U+28EA   ⣪   Braille pattern dots 24678
U+28EB   ⣫   Braille pattern dots 124678
U+28EC   ⣬   Braille pattern dots 34678
U+28ED   ⣭   Braille pattern dots 134678
U+28EE   ⣮   Braille pattern dots 234678
U+28EF   ⣯   Braille pattern dots 1234678
U+28F0   ⣰   Braille pattern dots 5678
U+28F1   ⣱   Braille pattern dots 15678
U+28F2   ⣲   Braille pattern dots 25678
U+28F3   ⣳   Braille pattern dots 125678
U+28F4   ⣴   Braille pattern dots 35678
U+28F5   ⣵   Braille pattern dots 135678
U+28F6   ⣶   Braille pattern dots 235678
U+28F7   ⣷   Braille pattern dots 1235678
U+28F8   ⣸   Braille pattern dots 45678
U+28F9   ⣹   Braille pattern dots 145678
U+28FA   ⣺   Braille pattern dots 245678
U+28FB   ⣻   Braille pattern dots 1245678
U+28FC   ⣼   Braille pattern dots 345678
U+28FD   ⣽   Braille pattern dots 1345678
U+28FE   ⣾   Braille pattern dots 2345678
U+28FF   ⣿   Braille pattern dots 12345678

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