Empty frame
ASCII+------------------+ | | +------------------+
A frame to fill with short text.
Copyable collection
8 ASCII borders to copy: frames and dividers
Use a frame made of +, - and | around a title, or a one-line divider. Displayed width includes the edges; preserve the interior width when replacing text.
8 designs available
Dotted divider
ASCIIo---o---o---o---o
A simple divider between two sections.
Star divider
ASCII* . * . * . * . *
A short decorative line.
Framed bar
ASCII[==================]
A horizontal bar for a monospace area.
TITLE frame
ASCII+-----------+ | TITRE | +-----------+
Replace TITRE and preserve the spaces.
Equals-sign frame
ASCII+===========+ | | +===========+
A heavier border variant.
Arrow divider
ASCII----->----->
A divider that points in a direction.
Mini frame
ASCII+----+ | | +----+
Four interior columns to fill.
No matching designs. Try a wider size.
Choose for the destination
A frame groups a short note. For a long paragraph, prefer a heading and ordinary text: a large rectangle requires manual line wrapping and quickly becomes inconvenient on a phone.
Compare the eight formats
| Design | Columns | Lines | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty frame | 20 | 3 | A frame to fill with short text. |
| Dotted divider | 17 | 1 | A simple divider between two sections. |
| Star divider | 17 | 1 | A short decorative line. |
| Framed bar | 20 | 1 | A horizontal bar for a monospace area. |
| TITLE frame | 13 | 3 | Replace TITRE and preserve the spaces. |
| Equals-sign frame | 13 | 3 | A heavier border variant. |
| Arrow divider | 12 | 1 | A divider that points in a direction. |
| Mini frame | 6 | 3 | Four interior columns to fill. |
Two examples explained
TITLE frame
+-----------+ | TITRE | +-----------+
The TITRE frame has eleven interior columns: three spaces, five letters and three spaces. A six-letter word leaves five spaces, which can be split into two on the left and three on the right. A one-column asymmetry is normal.
Mini frame
+----+ | | +----+
The mini frame has four interior columns. OK therefore needs two additional spaces: one before it and one after it. Do not add four on each side: that would widen the middle line without extending the borders.
Customise without losing the shape
Method: for an interior width W and an N-character ASCII title, calculate W − N. If negative, enlarge the frame. Otherwise put the integer half on the left and the remainder on the right. This works for printable ASCII in a monospace font; emoji need a visual check.
Copying, compatibility and limitations
Copy the complete design, then check the result in your app. TXT preserves raw text; it does not set the recipient’s font. If the design shifts, use the alignment repair guide. Tools can export an image when you need a fixed appearance, but that image is no longer selectable raw text art.
These are simple variants provided here, without invented historical attribution. The ASCII repertoire is documented in RFC 20. On a web page, the HTML pre element preserves spacing; this does not guarantee presentation in every messaging app.