By Maya Chen, lettering designer and type educator · Checked by Jordan Hale · · How we review content
Key facts
- The ASCII dividers tool makes each divider at any width from 6 to 120 characters, and the Pure ASCII only option hides the Unicode styles.
- Pure ASCII dividers such as dashes, equals, waves and zigzags use only keyboard characters, so they look the same in terminals, plain email and code.
- A 15 to 20 character divider fits one line in a phone bio, 40 to 60 suits desktop posts and READMEs, and code comments should match the usual 80-column line length.
- In Markdown, three or more dashes, asterisks or underscores alone on a line become a horizontal rule, so put a divider in a code block or pick another style.
- Screen readers may read a divider as a long list of symbol names such as "box drawings light horizontal", so keep dividers short and put no information in them.
These ASCII dividers are single-line separators you can copy and paste into bios, posts, code comments and READMEs. Pick a width, and every style updates to that exact length, from plain dashes and equals signs to hearts, flowers and sparkles. One tap on Copy puts the line on your clipboard.
How to copy ASCII dividers
- Choose a width with the preset buttons or the Custom slider. Use 15 to 20 for a phone bio.
- Tick Pure ASCII only if the divider has to work in a terminal or plain text email. Leave it off for hearts, flowers and sparkles.
- Press Copy next to the divider you like, then paste it where you need it.
ASCII or symbols?
Pure ASCII dividers (dashes, equals, waves, zigzags) use only keyboard characters, so they look the same in terminals, plain email, code and old systems. Symbol dividers (box drawing lines, hearts, flowers, sparkles) are Unicode: they look smoother or cuter in apps and bios, but rely on the reader’s font.
| Where | Good choices |
|---|---|
| Code comments, config files | Dashes, Equals, Hash borders |
| README and docs | Line, Double line, Centre star |
| Instagram, TikTok, Discord bios | Hearts, Flowers, Sparkles, Centre flower |
| Plain text email | Dashes, Equals, Waves |
Making your own
A divider is one pattern repeated to a width. Short patterns of one or two characters look even at any length; longer patterns such as the shade or sparkle strings work best when the width is a multiple of the pattern length. The maker cuts the pattern to the exact width you pick.
For a box around text instead of a line, use the ASCII border maker. For single decorative symbols to mix into dividers, browse the symbols collection.
Used sparingly and kept short, ASCII dividers separate sections without costing readers or screen readers much, and the maker keeps the width exact.
Frequently asked questions
Basics
What are ASCII dividers?
ASCII dividers are one repeated pattern of characters that separates sections of text, such as a row of dashes or equals signs. This tool makes 20 styles at any width, including symbol styles like hearts and flowers, which are Unicode rather than pure ASCII.
How do I copy an ASCII divider?
Choose a width with the preset buttons or the Custom slider, then press Copy next to the divider you like and paste it where you need it. Every style updates to that exact length, so you can compare them at the width you will use.
What does Pure ASCII only do?
It hides the Unicode styles and leaves only dividers made of keyboard characters, such as dashes, equals, waves and zigzags. Tick it when the divider has to work in a terminal, plain text email or code, where hearts and box drawing lines may not display.
Where it works
Which dividers work in Instagram and TikTok bios?
All of them paste, but in a proportional font the line looks shorter or longer than in the preview, and some apps trim repeated spaces, which affects the Stars style. Line, Double line and Hearts usually look tidiest.
Which dividers work in code comments?
Dashes, Equals and Hash borders. They use only keyboard characters, so they survive any editor and encoding. Set the width to match your project's line length, usually 80, and put your comment marker in front of the line.
Which dividers suit a README?
Line, Double line and Centre star. Markdown can turn some dashes into a horizontal rule, so put the divider inside a code block if you want it to appear as typed. For a plain full-width rule, Markdown's own three dashes may be simpler.
Which dividers work in a plain text email?
Dashes, Equals or Waves. They are pure ASCII, so every mail client shows them. Hearts and flowers rely on the reader's font, and a plain text email gives you no control over it.
How it works
Why does Markdown turn my dashes into a line?
In Markdown, a line of three or more dashes, asterisks or underscores on its own becomes a horizontal rule, and underscores or asterisks around words become italics. Put the divider in a code block, or pick a style that does not start with those characters.
What widths can I choose for a divider?
From 6 to 120 characters. The preset buttons cover common sizes and the Custom slider sets any width in that range. A divider that is wider than the line it sits in wraps onto a second line and looks broken.
Why does the end of my divider look cut off?
The maker cuts the pattern to the exact width you pick, so a long pattern can stop mid-way. One or two character patterns look even at any width. Longer patterns, such as the shade or sparkle strings, look best when the width is a multiple of the pattern length.
Tips & limits
How long should a divider be?
For a phone bio or caption, 15 to 20 characters fits on one line. For desktop posts and READMEs, 40 to 60. For code comments, match your line length, usually 80. A divider that wraps onto a second line looks broken, so test on the smallest screen it will be seen on.
Are dividers bad for accessibility?
A screen reader may read a divider as a long list of symbol names, such as "box drawings light horizontal" twenty times. Use dividers sparingly, keep them short, and never put information in them.
Can I make my own divider?
Yes. A divider is one pattern repeated to a width, so you can type a short pattern yourself and repeat it. Single symbols from the symbols collection mix well in the pattern, though unusual symbols may depend on the reader's font.
Related generators & guides
- ASCII Border GeneratorThese ASCII borders wrap your text in a box that grows to fit. Choose one of 12 styles, set alignment and padding, then copy it plain or as a Discord code block.
- Box Drawing CharactersBox drawing characters are the 128 Unicode line pieces from U+2500 to U+257F, shown with the 32 block elements and shades beside them, ready to copy. Tap one to copy it, or start from a ready-made box, table or folder tree.
- Aesthetic FontsThese aesthetic fonts turn your text into styled Unicode letters that match a look, such as coquette, dark academia or minimal. Pick a style, add a frame, tap Copy and paste it into your bio or caption.
- Text DecoratorThis text decorator wraps your name in 28 frames such as ꧁ ꧂ and ★彡 彡★, in the letter style you choose. Type a name, filter frames by mood, then tap a row to copy.
- ASCII TableThe ASCII table lists all 128 ASCII codes, numbered 0 to 127, with their decimal, hexadecimal, octal and binary values, character names and HTML codes. Tap a printable character to copy it, and read the control codes' escape sequences beside it.
- One Line ASCII ArtOne line ASCII art: tiny pictures that fit on a single line, so they survive any app, font or text box. Tap to copy.