alphanumerics
Noun: A set of characters that includes letters of the alphabet, numerical digits, and often punctuation marks. This term refers to a collection of symbols used for representing textual information in computing and data processing.
The term "alphanumerics" is used to describe a complete character system, typically in technical contexts like computing, data entry, or telecommunications. It emphasizes the inclusion of both alphabetic and numeric characters, and often extends to basic punctuation.
- The old system's password field only accepted alphanumerics.
- The data must be encoded using a standard set of alphanumerics.
- This keyboard is designed for efficient input of alphanumerics.
- "Full alphanumerics": Sometimes used to specify a character set that includes both uppercase and lowercase letters, in addition to digits and punctuation.
- In formal specifications, the scope (e.g., whether it includes spaces or specific symbols) of what constitutes the alphanumerics is often defined.
- Alphanumeric (adjective): Describing something that consists of or uses both letters and numbers.
- Example: The file name must be alphanumeric.
- Alphanumerical (adjective): A less common variant synonymous with "alphanumeric."
- Character set
- Alphanumeric characters
- Alphanumeric set
The core meaning is a set or collection of characters. While often used interchangeably with "alphanumeric characters," the plural form "alphanumerics" specifically highlights the collective nature of the symbols. It does not refer to a single character.
- a character set that includes letters and digits and punctuation