eBraille
eBraille is the braille file format for the way people actually read today. It combines the precision of traditional braille with the flexibility of modern digital publishing.
Reflowable braille: eBraille content reflows automatically to fit whatever device you’re reading on, whether that’s a 20-cell display, a 40-cell display, single line or multiline.
Enhanced navigation: eBraille brings real navigation to braille for the first time, with headings, lists, tables, and links you can move through directly. It’s the kind of navigation EPUB and web readers already take for granted, now built into braille itself.
Support for tactile graphics: text and tactile graphics live together in one file. If a display can’t render the image, eBraille falls back to a text description.
International support: braille shouldn’t stop at a border. eBraille is built to travel, so the same file can be shared and read across countries using different braille codes, helping close the global gap in available braille content.
And because it’s built on the same web technologies as EPUB, an eBraille file can live on the web, sit on a local file system, or be distributed as a convenient package.
Who is it for?
eBraille is for anyone who creates or reads digital braille. Transcribers and producers will be able to create it using their existing workflow and tools, simply choosing eBraille as the output format. Readers can open eBraille files on their current braille display, no new hardware required, and are ready to take full advantage of the newest multiline displays as they become part of daily life. Whether you’re a student working through a textbook, a librarian building a collection, or a lifelong braille reader, eBraille is built to grow with the technology you use to read.
Status
The current version is eBraille 1.0 released in August 2025. The eBraille Standard is managed and maintained by The DAISY Consortium.
Tools and Resources
The DAISY Pipeline app for Windows and Mac can be used to create eBraille from Word and DTBook documents.
The BRF to eBRL Converter from American Printing House is a Windows tool that transforms BRF files into eBRL documents while preserving formatting, integrating tactile graphics, and supporting metadata for efficient, accessible braille document conversion.
The eBraille Checker from DAISY conformance checker for eBraille publications. It can be run as a standalone command-line tool or used as a Java library.
Looking for some eBraille? DAISY member National Federation of the Blind was pleased and proud to offer the first-ever publication to be made available in the new eBraille file format.
What better way to experience eBraille than with Treasure Island, a swashbuckling classic? Thanks to APH readers can now enjoy the story with dynamic formatting, imbedded tactile graphics, and structured navigation. It’s not just a book—it’s a demonstration of what modern digital braille can feel like: smooth, responsive, and elegant.
Participate
Sign up to the ebraille mailing list where we announce meetings, discuss relevant topics, and share notes. After registering, please check your junk mail folder for the confirmation email. You can leave the mailing list at any time.
History
DAISY member American Printing House for the Blind is on a mission to create a groundbreaking electronic braille text and graphics device to revolutionize braille learning and accessibility. This inspired them to propose a new braille format that would address the issues with existing solutions and will work with new and existing braille displays.