---
title: 1.4 Character Data Type
description: "The `char` type is used to store a character value. In C, a character constant such as `'A'` is represented by an integer value according to the execution character set. ``` #include int main() { char ch = 'A'; printf(\"Character:…"
url: "https://edcret.in/docs/c-programming/basic-refreshers/1-4-character-data-type/"
updated: "2026-09-06"
category: C Programming / Basic Refreshers
---

# 1.4 Character Data Type

The `char` type is used to store a character value. In C, a character constant such as `'A'` is represented by an integer value according to the execution character set.

```
#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    char ch = 'A';

    printf("Character: %c\n", ch);
    printf("Integer value: %d\n", ch);

    return 0;
}
```

### Example Output

```
Character: A
Integer value: 65
```

The numeric value shown for `'A'` is typical of an ASCII execution character set.

### Explanation

The variable is declared as:

```
char ch = 'A';
```

A character constant is written using single quotes:

```
'A'
```

`%c` displays the value as a character:

```
printf("Character: %c\n", ch);
```

Since `char` is an integer type, its value can also participate in integer expressions. `%d` displays the integer value after the usual integer promotions:

```
printf("Integer value: %d\n", ch);
```

### Character and Integer Representation

| Character | Typical ASCII value |
| --- | --- |
| `'0'` | 48 |
| `'1'` | 49 |
| `'A'` | 65 |
| `'B'` | 66 |
| `'a'` | 97 |
| `'b'` | 98 |
| Space `' '` | 32 |

The C language does not require ASCII specifically. The actual values depend on the execution character set.

A `char` occupies exactly **1 byte**, although the number of bits in that byte is implementation-defined.