braillestandaarden

Braillestandaarden are the codes and conventions used to represent written text in braille, covering how the six- or eight-dot cells map to letters, numbers, punctuation, formatting, and contractions. They define how braille is produced, read, and exchanged across print, embossing, and digital systems, and they vary by language and use case.

Language-specific braille codes exist for Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish, and many other languages. In English, Unified English Braille (UEB) is widely adopted to standardize contractions, punctuation, and formatting, facilitating cross-border reading. Some languages use uncontracted braille (Grade 1), while others employ contracted forms (Grade 2) or language-specific variants that reflect linguistic features.

Beyond language codes, there are general encoding schemes used in technology. Braille can be represented with 6-dot cells or 8-dot cells for extended characters. Digital systems commonly use Unicode Braille Patterns to encode each cell, enabling braille to be rendered in software and on devices. A text-based representation known as Braille ASCII is also used for simple interchange in some workflows.

Historical context and governance also shape braille standards. The system was invented by Louis Braille in the 1820s, and modern standards formalize how braille is taught, published, and rendered on refreshable displays and embossers, supporting interoperability among publishers, devices, and assistive technologies.

Impact and scope: braille standards support literacy and access to information for blind and visually impaired people, spanning education, publishing, libraries, and digital accessibility. They enable consistent reading experiences across languages and formats, promoting inclusion in information society.