Alphanumeric: meaning, definitions and examples
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alphanumeric
[ ˌælfəˈnʊmərɪk ]
data representation
Alphanumeric refers to a character set that consists of both alphabetic characters (letters) and numeric characters (numbers). This type of character set is commonly used in computer systems, databases, and programming languages to represent data. Alphanumeric characters can include uppercase and lowercase letters along with digits from 0 to 9. It is essential for various applications such as passwords, license plates, and coding systems where a combination of letters and numbers is required.
Synonyms
letter-number, numeric-alphabetic
Examples of usage
- Alphanumeric passwords are more secure.
- The license plate must be alphanumeric.
- Please enter an alphanumeric code.
Translations
Translations of the word "alphanumeric" in other languages:
🇵🇹 alfanumérico
🇮🇳 अल्फा-न्यूमेरिक
🇩🇪 alphanumerisch
🇮🇩 alfanumerik
🇺🇦 алфавітно-цифровий
🇵🇱 alfanumeryczny
🇯🇵 英数字の
🇫🇷 alphanumérique
🇪🇸 alfanumérico
🇹🇷 alfanümerik
🇰🇷 영숫자
🇸🇦 ألفا رقمي
🇨🇿 alfanumerický
🇸🇰 alfanumerický
🇨🇳 字母数字的
🇸🇮 alfanumeričen
🇮🇸 alfanúmerískur
🇰🇿 әлфавиттік-сандық
🇬🇪 ალფანუმერული
🇦🇿 alfanumerik
🇲🇽 alfanumérico
Etymology
The term 'alphanumeric' originated in the 1960s, combining 'alpha', derived from the Greek alphabet, which refers to letters, and 'numeric', coming from Latin, which relates to numbers. It was initially used in computing and data processing contexts as technology evolved. As computers became integral to various sectors, the necessity for a standard character representation that allowed both letters and digits became evident. The widespread use of alphanumeric characters expanded with the development of programming languages and database management systems, where distinct and variable identifiers were needed. Over the years, the term has remained relevant in discussions surrounding cybersecurity, data entry standards, and user interface design.