Braille Patterns
Unicode reserves a block of 256 characters for the eight-dot braille cell, one character for every possible combination of raised dots. That covers every letter, number and punctuation mark used in real braille, plus every dot pattern that has no assigned meaning at all.
A braille character on a screen is a shape, not a translation. The same eight-dot cell can stand for completely different letters in English braille, French braille, or braille music, depending on the system reading it. None of these have a Windows Alt code.
Questions
Does typing a braille character here translate English text into braille?
No. Each character is a dot pattern only. The meaning behind it depends entirely on which braille system is reading it.
Why are there 256 braille characters when the alphabet only needs a few dozen?
Unicode includes every possible combination of the eight dot positions, not just the patterns braille systems currently assign meaning to.
Is there an Alt code for braille characters?
No. Copy the character directly, or use its Unicode value.
Can a sighted person learn to read these patterns visually?
Yes, with practice. The dot positions are fixed and logical. The real challenge for sighted readers is usually speed, since braille is normally read by touch rather than sight.
Why does braille only need six dots to cover an entire alphabet?
Six dots arranged in two columns of three give 64 possible combinations, more than enough for the alphabet, numbers and punctuation once a few patterns are reused as shift markers for context.