How to Decode Braille
Decoding Braille involves converting dot patterns back into their corresponding text characters. The decoder processes Braille input sequentially, maintaining state for indicators:
- Parse the input — accept either Unicode Braille characters or dot notation like (1,2,5)
- Process indicators — track capital and number indicator states
- Map cells to characters — convert each Braille cell to its corresponding letter, number, or punctuation mark
- Handle mode transitions — switch between letter and number modes as indicators are encountered
Understanding Indicators in Decoding
When decoding, the decoder maintains a state machine:
- Normal mode: Each cell maps directly to a lowercase letter or punctuation
- Capital mode: Activated by the capital indicator (dot 6); the next cell is output as an uppercase letter
- Number mode: Activated by the number indicator (dots 3,4,5,6); subsequent cells use the A-J to 1-0 mapping until a space or letter indicator resets the mode
Input Formats
This decoder accepts two input formats:
- Unicode Braille: Paste actual Braille Unicode characters directly (e.g., ⠓⠑⠇⠇⠕)
- Dot notation: Write each cell as parenthesized dot numbers, e.g., (1,2,5) (1,5) (1,2,3)
The format is automatically detected based on whether the input contains Unicode Braille characters or parentheses.