A character set is a collection of symbols used to represent text in computers and digital devices. Each symbol, such as letters, numbers, and punctuation marks, is assigned a unique code, allowing computers to store and manipulate text. Common character sets include ASCII, which represents basic English characters, and UTF-8, which supports a wide range of characters from various languages. Character sets are essential for ensuring that text appears correctly across different systems and applications. When data is shared or transferred, the character set must be compatible to avoid issues like garbled text. Understanding character sets helps in programming, web development, and data processing.