1. genetics a distinctive and usually variable feature (e.g., color, size, performance) exhibited by all individuals of a group capable of being described or measured —note a character of a given individual will have a certain phenotype as determined by the individual's genotype and environment —see heterozygous population 2. computers a letter, number, or special graphic symbol (e.g., *, @, -) treated as a single unit of data 3. computers a data type referring to text columns in an attribute table, e.g., NAME —see acquired character, combining ability, traitThis definition last updated 10/25/2008