Windows-1255

Windows-1255 is a codepage used under Microsoft Windows to write Hebrew. It is an almost compatible superset of ISO 8859-8 - the letters are in the same positions (except for A4, which is 'sheqel sign' in Windows-1255 but 'generic currency sign' in ISO 8859-8), but Windows-1255 adds vowel-points and other signs in lower positions.

Modern applications prefer UTF-8 or UTF-16 to windows 1255.

[edit] Codepage layout

Only the upper half (128–255) is shown, the lower half (0–127) being plain ASCII.

[edit] Usage

Windows-1255 Hebrew is always in logical order (as opposed to visual). Microsoft Hebrew products (Windows, Office and Internet Explorer) brought logically-ordered Hebrew to common use, with the result that Windows-1255 is the Hebrew encoding that can be found most on the Web, having ousted the visually ordered ISO-8859-8, and preferred to the logically ordered ISO-8859-8-I because it provides for vowel-points.

[edit] Relation to Unicode

The Unicode block in Hebrew (U+0590–U+05FF) follows Windows-1255 by encoding both letters and vowel-points in the same relative positions as Windows-1255. Unicode goes further in encoding cantillation marks in lower positions. Unicode Hebrew is always in logical order.

For modern applications UTF-8 or UTF-16 is a preferred encoding.

[edit] See also

• 7-bit Hebrew under ISO 646
• Code page 862
• ISO 8859-8

[edit] External links

• Windows 1255 reference chart
• IANA Charset Name Registration of windows-1255
• Unicode mapping table for Windows 1255
• Unicode mappings of windows 1255 with "best fit"