A "char" is short for "character" and primarily refers to a data type in programming and computing that stores a single symbol or letter. It is typically represented as a tiny sequence of bytes, often 8 bits (1 byte), capable of holding one character, number, or symbol. Characters are used in computers to store text, allowing programs to represent letters, numbers, and other symbols as data. In programming languages like C, a char represents a single character surrounded by single quotes, such as 'A'. Strings, by contrast, are sequences or arrays of chars. Chars are central to computer text processing, encoding, and communication since they allow data to be broken into meaningful chunks for storage and transmission. Character encoding systems like ASCII and UTF-8 define how chars map to specific symbols or letters, enabling computers to interpret and display text correctly. UTF-8, for instance, can represent a wide range of characters from multiple languages by encoding them in one or more bytes. Aside from computing, "char" also refers to a byproduct in chemistry— the solid residue left after certain carbon materials are heated and volatile compounds are driven off. This meaning, however, is distinct from the computing context. In summary, "char" most commonly refers to a single character data type in programming used to represent symbols, letters, or numbers, critical for text manipulation in software and digital systems.