What is a character set?

A character set refers to a defined list of characters that a computer system can recognize and use to represent data. This includes letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and other symbols. Each character in the set is associated with specific numerical values, enabling computers to store and process text-based information effectively.

For example, common character sets include ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) and Unicode, which is designed to support a wider variety of characters from different languages around the world.

The other options do not accurately represent a character set. Methods of encoding images pertain to how visual information is stored and processed but do not involve characters. A programming language is a formal system for writing instructions for a computer, not a collection of characters. Lastly, while hardware components are essential for computer function, they do not relate to the concept of a character set, which is more about the representation and manipulation of text within software contexts.