CHARACTER CLASS Meaning and
Definition
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A character class, in the context of computer programming and regular expressions, is a set of characters that are treated as a single entity or category. It is a fundamental concept used in pattern matching and text searching algorithms.
In regular expressions, a character class is denoted by enclosing a group of characters within square brackets []. It represents any single character that matches any one of the characters within the class. For example, [aeiou] matches any vowel, and [0-9] matches any digit.
Character classes can also include predefined shorthand character classes such as \d, which matches any digit, \w, which matches any word character (letters, digits, and underscore), and \s, which matches any whitespace character.
Furthermore, negation can be applied to a character class by including a caret ^ at the beginning. For instance, [^aeiou] matches any non-vowel character.
Character classes provide powerful and flexible tools for defining patterns and matching specific combinations of characters. They make it possible to efficiently search for and extract specific text patterns from large volumes of data, such as finding all email addresses within a document or validating input formats in web forms.
Overall, character classes form an essential component of regular expressions, enabling programmers to define intricate and precise patterns for text matching and manipulation.
Common Misspellings for CHARACTER CLASS
- Charactor Class
- Charachter Class
- Charcater Class
- Charicter Class
- Charater Class
- Charactor Klass
- Charachter Klass
- Charicter Klass
- Charater Klass
- Charector Class
- Charechter Class
- Charecter Class
- Charecter Klass
Etymology of CHARACTER CLASS
The term "character class" is primarily used in role-playing games to refer to a category that defines a player character's abilities, skills, and strengths.
The etymology of the term "character" can be traced back to the Latin word "character", which means a distinctive mark or a symbol. It later evolved in Old French as "caractere" and then in Middle English as "character", which refers to a written or printed symbol to represent a sound or an idea.
The word "class" has its origins in the Latin word "classis", which refers to a division or a category of people or things. It later transitioned into Old French as "classe", meaning a group or a rank. It then entered Middle English as "class" and has remained largely unchanged in its meaning.
