Character - GCSE Computer Science Definition

Reviewed by: Robert Hampton

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In the context of GCSE Computer Science, a 'character' refers to any single unit of text that can be represented digitally, such as letters, numbers, punctuation marks, or symbols. Characters are encoded using standardised character sets like ASCII or Unicode, which assign a unique binary value to each character to facilitate their storage and manipulation in computer systems. Understanding characters is essential for tasks such as programming, data processing, and creating user interfaces, as they form the building blocks for text-based data and communication within software applications.

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Robert Hampton

Reviewer: Robert Hampton

Expertise: Computer Science Content Creator

Rob has over 16 years' experience teaching Computer Science and ICT at KS3 & GCSE levels. Rob has demonstrated strong leadership as Head of Department since 2012 and previously supported teacher development as a Specialist Leader of Education, empowering departments to excel in Computer Science. Beyond his tech expertise, Robert embraces the virtual world as an avid gamer, conquering digital battlefields when he's not coding.

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