The charm of ASCII smileys :-)

2025-07-19 13:00

Nowadays, it's easy to forget about ASCII smileys. These simple text faces were the first way to show feelings online. They have a special place in the history of the internet and in my heart.

A bit of history

The story of ASCII smileys starts in the early 1980s. Back then, the internet was just beginning, and people mostly communicated through text. Scott Fahlman, a computer scientist, had an idea. He suggested using :-) for jokes and :-( for serious comments. This small idea changed how we talk online forever.

:-)

:-(

Simple and for everyone

ASCII smileys are wonderfully simple. Unlike today's emojis, they look the same no matter where you see them. In an email or a text message, they always look familiar. This makes them a reliable way to share feelings.

But their simplicity is deceptive. With just a few keystrokes, you can make many different expressions. Some examples for youngest readers:

• ;-) for a wink

;-)

• :-D for a big grin

:-D

• :'( for crying

:'(

• >:-( for anger

>:-(

• :-/ for skepticism

:-/

These little combinations let us express a lot, even in plain text.

A touch of nostalgia

For those