control character: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical
Quick answer
What does “control character” mean?
A non-printing character in a character set that initiates or modifies a control operation in computing and telecommunications.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A non-printing character in a character set that initiates or modifies a control operation in computing and telecommunications.
Invisible characters in computing used to format text, control devices, or separate data streams. They often serve as commands for software or hardware rather than representing a printable symbol.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling of 'character' remains the same.
Connotations
Identical technical meaning in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both UK and US computing contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “control character” in a Sentence
[verb] a control character[verb] contains control character(s)control character [verb]control character for [purpose]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “control character” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The software needs to control character encoding automatically.
- You cannot effectively control character flow without the correct drivers.
American English
- The protocol helps control character transmission.
- Their new system will control character mapping more efficiently.
adverb
British English
- The data was processed control character by control character.
- It reads the stream control character carefully.
American English
- He examined the log control character thoroughly.
- The parser handles it control character efficiently.
adjective
British English
- They faced a control character issue in the legacy system.
- The manual describes the control character sequence in detail.
American English
- She specializes in control character protocols.
- The file has a control character problem.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used outside of IT departments; e.g., 'The spreadsheet import failed due to hidden control characters.'
Academic
Used in computer science, information theory, and linguistics (corpus studies); e.g., 'The corpus was cleaned of Unicode control characters.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in general conversation.
Technical
Core term in programming, data processing, and telecommunications; e.g., 'The line feed control character advances the cursor to the next line.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “control character”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “control character”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “control character”
- Pronouncing 'character' as /ˈtʃær.ək.tər/ (UK) or /ˈtʃer.ək.tɚ/ (US) is correct. A common mistake is to pronounce it like the unrelated word 'character' in 'character trait' with primary stress on the first syllable. The stress is on the second syllable: 'con-TROL CHAR-ac-ter'.
- Using 'control character' to refer to a typographical symbol like '@' or '&'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A space is a whitespace character but is considered a printable (or graphic) character in most character sets because it occupies a visible position, even though it appears blank.
They are often represented by abbreviations (e.g., LF for Line Feed, NUL for Null) or by a caret notation (e.g., ^M for Carriage Return). In code, they are represented by their numeric values (e.g., ASCII 13).
One of the most famous is the ASCII 'DEL' (Delete, code 127) character. Another is the 'BEL' (Bell, code 7) character which could ring a physical bell on early terminals.
Yes. Hidden control characters, often copied from word processors or other systems, are a common source of data corruption, file format issues, and security vulnerabilities (e.g., in parsing).
A non-printing character in a character set that initiates or modifies a control operation in computing and telecommunications.
Control character is usually technical in register.
Control character: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈtrəʊl ˌkær.ək.tə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈtroʊl ˌker.ək.tɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “behind the control characters (metaphorical for 'invisible forces')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'CONTROL Character' as a backstage CREW member for text: you never see them (non-printing), but they control how the visible 'actors' (letters) behave on the stage (screen/page).
Conceptual Metaphor
INVISIBLE COMMANDER (An unseen entity that directs the behaviour of a system).
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary function of a control character?