The “chars” command is a utility that allows users to display the names and codes for various ASCII and Unicode characters and code points. It provides a convenient way to explore and retrieve information about characters, including their names, Unicode code points, and representation in different character sets.
Here are the key features and functionalities provided by the “chars” command:
- Character Information: “chars” provides detailed information about characters, including their names and Unicode code points. Unicode is a character encoding standard that assigns a unique code point to each character, including characters from different writing systems and languages. The command displays the character name, Unicode code point, and additional details for each character.
- ASCII and Unicode Support: The utility supports both ASCII characters and Unicode characters. ASCII is a character encoding standard that represents basic Latin characters and control characters. Unicode, on the other hand, includes a much broader range of characters, covering various scripts, symbols, emojis, and special characters from different languages and cultures.
- Code Point Conversion: “chars” allows users to convert characters into their corresponding Unicode code points and vice versa. Users can input a character, and the command will display its Unicode code point. Conversely, users can provide a Unicode code point, and the command will display the corresponding character.
- Character Sets and Encodings: The command supports different character sets and encodings, including UTF-8, UTF-16, and UTF-32. These are different ways of representing Unicode characters using sequences of bytes. “chars” can display characters and their codes in the chosen encoding, providing flexibility for users with specific encoding requirements.
- Interactive and Batch Modes: The “chars” command can be used interactively, allowing users to enter characters or code points one at a time and obtain their corresponding information. It also supports batch mode, where users can provide a file containing a list of characters or code points, and the command will process them in batch, displaying the relevant information for each entry.
- Character Categories: “chars” provides information about the general category of each character, as defined by the Unicode standard. This categorization classifies characters into groups such as letters, digits, punctuation, symbols, and control characters, providing insights into the type and purpose of each character.
- Character Search: The utility allows users to search for characters by name or code point. Users can enter a partial or full character name or a Unicode code point, and the command will display matching characters along with their corresponding information.
The “chars” command is a versatile tool for exploring and retrieving information about ASCII and Unicode characters. It provides detailed character information, including names, code points, and categorization. With its support for different character sets and encodings, interactive and batch modes, and character search capabilities, “chars” facilitates character exploration and aids in understanding the properties and representations of various characters in the ASCII and Unicode standards.
chars Command Examples
1. Look up a character by its value:
# chars 'ß'
2. Look up a character by its Unicode code point:
# chars U+1F63C
3. Look up possible characters given an ambiguous code point:
# chars 10
4. Look up a control character:
# chars "^C"