What is a Non-ASCII Character​?

A non-ASCII character, as the name indicates, is any character that does not belong to the 128-character ASCII set.

These include, but aren't limited to, letters with accents, characters from languages that are not written in the Latin script, such as Arabic (العربية) and Chinese (中文) alphabets, mathematical operators (Ω ∑ π ≤ ≥), technical symbols ( © ® ™), and emojis (😀 ❤️ 🚀 🌍). All of these characters are typically represented using Unicode encoding in modern systems.

Non-ASCII characters are essential for current technologies, including global communications and data representation. As technologies advanced beyond the English character set, the inclusion of non-ASCII characters became necessary.

1. They facilitate global interaction: ASCII only covers English. The use of non-ASCII characters enables the display of all the world's diverse languages, facilitating instantaneous communication among different countries and cultures.

2. They guarantee linguistic fidelity: Particular words, such as "résumé," "fiancée," and "piñata," lose relevance when their accent marks are omitted. Symbols are also needed in scientific writing, such as °C, µm, or π.

3. They are the backbone of the contemporary internet: Websites, mobile applications, and cloud services are built on the assumption of the presence of Unicode (and hence non-ASCII characters). They address:

   • Content in multiple languages;
   • Text contributed by users;
   • Internationalization (i18n);
   • Adaptation to local cultures (L10n); and
   • Globalized e-commerce.

   Google, X, Wikipedia, and other online services provide worldwide access, in part, due to their support for Unicode.

4. They provide technical accuracy: Other than ASCII, characters are often required in mathematics, engineering, several fields of programming, and scientific writing.

5. They enhance the communication experience: To improve the overall sharing of ideas, communication must include a form of punctuation, and a variety of stylistic indicators must also be used (e.g., emojis).

The use of non-ASCII characters finds its roots deeper than we might think.

• Software and websites in multiple languages
  Global applications and online platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Shopify are all built on Unicode and rely on it to accurately present their content worldwide.

• Databases and data storage
  Systems nowadays save information, such as names, addresses, products, and messages, across multiple languages. For instance, customer names include "José", "Zoë", and "Müller". Location data can be like "北京市" (Beijing City). The brand name can be "Pokémon".

  There's no way for ASCII to represent any of the above.

• Programming, scientific, and technical writing
  Specialized developers and researchers can write using Unicode through:

  • Mathematical notation;
  • Equations in physics;
  • Symbols of chemicals; and
  • Diagrams of engineers.

• Digital communication and social media
  Informal communication heavily relies on modern symbols and emojis. For instance, texting someone, "See you tomorrow! 😊"

• Currency and financial systems
  In e-commerce, banking, and accounting systems, the correct representation of the symbols used for different currencies (€, ¥, ₹) is very important and is only possible through the non-ASCII symbols.

Modern computing is characterized by:

• A global user base;
• Multiple languages;
• Interoperable systems communication;
• Use of emojis;
• Use of scientific and technical content; and
• Rich typography.

With only 128 characters in ASCII, a significant gap exists in modern needs. Today, through Unicode, a connected, multilingual world is possible with non-ASCII characters.

However, we have made it easier for you to distinguish between ASCII vs. non-ASCII characters. Along with options, you can use our ASCII converter to see the numbers behind both ASCII and non-ASCII.