alphanumeric
Alphanumeric (adjective) means Made up of both letters and numbers, and sometimes other keyboard characters. Example: “Your password must be at least eight alphanumeric characters.”
How to Use Alphanumeric
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsing both letters and numbers.
Neutral, mildly technical. Standard in computing, forms and admin.
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Your password must be at least eight _____ characters.
Etymology
A blend of alphabetic and numeric, from Greek alphabētos and Latin numerus 'number'.
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for alphanumeric
See all rhymes for alphanumeric →Frequently Asked Questions
Do alphanumeric characters include symbols?
Strictly, no — alphanumeric means letters A–Z and digits 0–9 only. Many password forms nevertheless use the word loosely to mean 'letters, numbers and symbols', so read the specific rule the site gives rather than assuming.
What is an alphanumeric password?
It is a password containing at least one letter and at least one digit, rather than letters alone. Most sites also require a mix of upper and lower case, and many add a symbol on top.
How does alphanumeric sorting work?
It orders digits before letters, then goes character by character. That is why A10 sorts before A2 in a plain alphanumeric sort — the 1 is compared with the 2 before anything else is looked at. Natural sorting fixes this by reading whole numbers.
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