

@node Characters, Conses, Numbers (Numbers), Top
@chapter Characters

@menu
* Character Concepts::		
* Characters Dictionary::	
@end menu

@node Character Concepts, Characters Dictionary, Characters, Characters
@section Character Concepts

@c including concept-characters

@menu
* Introduction to Characters::	
* Introduction to Scripts and Repertoires::  
* Character Attributes::	
* Character Categories::	
* Identity of Characters::	
* Ordering of Characters::	
* Character Names::		
* Treatment of Newline during Input and Output::  
* Character Encodings::		
* Documentation of Implementation-Defined Scripts::  
@end menu

@node Introduction to Characters, Introduction to Scripts and Repertoires, Character Concepts, Character Concepts
@subsection Introduction to Characters

A @i{character}
@IGindex{character}
 is an @i{object} that represents a unitary token 
(@i{e.g.}, a letter, a special symbol, or a ``control character'')
in an aggregate quantity of text
(@i{e.g.}, a @i{string} or a text @i{stream}).

@r{Common Lisp} allows an implementation to provide support 
for international language @i{characters} as well
as @i{characters} used in specialized arenas (@i{e.g.}, mathematics).

The following figures contain lists of @i{defined names} applicable to 
@i{characters}.

Figure 13--1 lists some @i{defined names} relating to 
@i{character} @i{attributes} and @i{character} @i{predicates}.

@group
@noindent
@w{  alpha-char-p     char-not-equal     char>            }
@w{  alphanumericp    char-not-greaterp  char>=           }
@w{  both-case-p      char-not-lessp     digit-char-p     }
@w{  char-code-limit  char/=             graphic-char-p   }
@w{  char-equal       char<              lower-case-p     }
@w{  char-greaterp    char<=             standard-char-p  }
@w{  char-lessp       char=              upper-case-p     }

@noindent
@w{       Figure 13--1: Character defined names -- 1      }

@end group

Figure 13--2 lists some @i{character} construction and conversion @i{defined names}.

@group
@noindent
@w{  char-code      char-name    code-char   }
@w{  char-downcase  char-upcase  digit-char  }
@w{  char-int       character    name-char   }

@noindent
@w{  Figure 13--2: Character defined names -- 2}

@end group

@node Introduction to Scripts and Repertoires, Character Attributes, Introduction to Characters, Character Concepts
@subsection Introduction to Scripts and Repertoires

@menu
* Character Scripts::		
* Character Repertoires::	
@end menu

@node Character Scripts, Character Repertoires, Introduction to Scripts and Repertoires, Introduction to Scripts and Repertoires
@subsubsection Character Scripts

A @i{script} is one of possibly several sets that form an @i{exhaustive partition}
of the type @b{character}.

The number of such sets and boundaries between them is @i{implementation-defined}.
@r{Common Lisp} does not require these sets to be @i{types}, but an @i{implementation}
is permitted to define such @i{types} as an extension.  Since no @i{character}
from one @i{script} can ever be a member of another @i{script}, it is generally
more useful to speak about @i{character} @i{repertoires}.

Although
the term ``@i{script}'' is chosen for 
definitional 
compatibility with ISO terminology, no @i{conforming implementation} 
is required to use any particular @i{scripts} standardized by ISO
or by any other standards organization.

Whether and how the @i{script} or @i{scripts} used by any given
@i{implementation} are named is @i{implementation-dependent}.

@node Character Repertoires,  , Character Scripts, Introduction to Scripts and Repertoires
@subsubsection Character Repertoires

A @i{repertoire}
@IGindex{repertoire}
 is a @i{type specifier} for a @i{subtype} of @i{type} @b{character}.

This term is generally used when describing a collection of @i{characters}
independent of their coding.
@i{Characters} in @i{repertoires} are only identified
    by name,
    by @i{glyph}, or
    by character description.

A @i{repertoire} can contain @i{characters} from several
@i{scripts}, and a @i{character} can appear in more than
one @i{repertoire}.

For some examples of @i{repertoires}, see the coded character standards
ISO 8859/1, ISO 8859/2, and ISO 6937/2.
Note, however, that although
the term ``@i{repertoire}'' is chosen for 
definitional 
compatibility with ISO terminology, no @i{conforming implementation} 
is required to use @i{repertoires} standardized by ISO or any other 
standards organization.

@node Character Attributes, Character Categories, Introduction to Scripts and Repertoires, Character Concepts
@subsection Character Attributes

@i{Characters} have only one @i{standardized} @i{attribute}:
a @i{code}.  A @i{character}'s @i{code} is a non-negative @i{integer}.
This @i{code} is composed from a character @i{script} and a character label
in an @i{implementation-dependent} way.  See the @i{functions} @b{char-code} and @b{code-char}.

Additional, @i{implementation-defined} @i{attributes} of @i{characters}
are also permitted
so that, for example, 
two @i{characters} with the same @i{code} may differ 
in some other, @i{implementation-defined} way.

For any @i{implementation-defined} @i{attribute}
there is a distinguished value
called the @i{null}
@IGindex{null}
 value for that @i{attribute}. 
A @i{character} for which each @i{implementation-defined} @i{attribute}
has the null value for that @i{attribute} is called a @i{simple} @i{character}.
If the @i{implementation} has no @i{implementation-defined} @i{attributes},
then all @i{characters} are @i{simple} @i{characters}.

@node Character Categories, Identity of Characters, Character Attributes, Character Concepts
@subsection Character Categories

There are several (overlapping) categories of @i{characters} that have no formally
associated @i{type} but that are nevertheless useful to name. 
They include
     @i{graphic} @i{characters}, 
     @i{alphabetic}_1 @i{characters},
     @i{characters} with @i{case} 
       (@i{uppercase} and @i{lowercase} @i{characters}),
     @i{numeric} @i{characters},
     @i{alphanumeric} @i{characters},
 and @i{digits} (in a given @i{radix}).

For each @i{implementation-defined} @i{attribute} of a @i{character},
the documentation for that @i{implementation} must specify whether 
@i{characters} that differ only in that @i{attribute} are permitted to differ
in whether are not they are members of one of the aforementioned categories.

Note that these terms are defined independently of any special syntax 
which might have been enabled in the @i{current readtable}.

@menu
* Graphic Characters::		
* Alphabetic Characters::	
* Characters With Case::	
* Uppercase Characters::	
* Lowercase Characters::	
* Corresponding Characters in the Other Case::	
* Case of Implementation-Defined Characters::  
* Numeric Characters::		
* Alphanumeric Characters::	
* Digits in a Radix::		
@end menu

@node Graphic Characters, Alphabetic Characters, Character Categories, Character Categories
@subsubsection Graphic Characters

@i{Characters} that are classified as @i{graphic}
@IGindex{graphic}
, or displayable, are each
associated with a glyph, a visual representation of the @i{character}.

A @i{graphic} @i{character} is one that has a standard textual 
representation as a single @i{glyph}, such as @t{A} or @t{*} or @t{=}.
@i{Space}, which effectively has a blank @i{glyph}, is defined
to be a @i{graphic}.

Of the @i{standard characters},
     @i{newline} is @i{non-graphic} 
 and all others are @i{graphic}; see @ref{Standard Characters}.

@i{Characters} that are not @i{graphic} are called @i{non-graphic}
@IGindex{non-graphic}
.

@i{Non-graphic} @i{characters} are sometimes informally called
    ``formatting characters'' 
 or ``control characters.''

@t{#\Backspace},
@t{#\Tab},
@t{#\Rubout},
@t{#\Linefeed}, 
@t{#\Return}, and
@t{#\Page},
if they are supported by the @i{implementation},
are @i{non-graphic}.

@node Alphabetic Characters, Characters With Case, Graphic Characters, Character Categories
@subsubsection Alphabetic Characters

The @i{alphabetic}_1 @i{characters} are
a subset of the @i{graphic} @i{characters}.
Of the @i{standard characters}, only these are the @i{alphabetic}_1 @i{characters}:

@t{A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z}

@t{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z}

Any @i{implementation-defined} @i{character} that has @i{case} 
must be @i{alphabetic}_1.
For each @i{implementation-defined} @i{graphic} @i{character} 
that has no @i{case},
it is @i{implementation-defined} whether 
that @i{character} is @i{alphabetic}_1.

@node Characters With Case, Uppercase Characters, Alphabetic Characters, Character Categories
@subsubsection Characters With Case

The @i{characters} with @i{case} are 
a subset of the @i{alphabetic}_1 @i{characters}.
A @i{character} with @i{case} has the property of being either
@i{uppercase} or @i{lowercase}.
Every @i{character} with @i{case} is in one-to-one correspondence
with some other @i{character} with the opposite @i{case}.

@node Uppercase Characters, Lowercase Characters, Characters With Case, Character Categories
@subsubsection Uppercase Characters

An uppercase @i{character} is one that has a corresponding
@i{lowercase} @i{character} that is @i{different} 
(and can be obtained using @b{char-downcase}).

Of the @i{standard characters}, only these are @i{uppercase} @i{characters}:

@t{A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z}

@node Lowercase Characters, Corresponding Characters in the Other Case, Uppercase Characters, Character Categories
@subsubsection Lowercase Characters

A lowercase @i{character} is one that has a corresponding 
@i{uppercase} @i{character} that is @i{different} 
(and can be obtained using @b{char-upcase}).

Of the @i{standard characters}, only these are @i{lowercase} @i{characters}:

@t{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z}

@node Corresponding Characters in the Other Case, Case of Implementation-Defined Characters, Lowercase Characters, Character Categories
@subsubsection Corresponding Characters in the Other Case

The @i{uppercase} @i{standard characters} @t{A} through @t{Z} mentioned above
respectively correspond to
the @i{lowercase} @i{standard characters} @t{a} through @t{z} mentioned above.
For example, the @i{uppercase} @i{character} @t{E} 
corresponds to the @i{lowercase} @i{character} @t{e}, and vice versa.

@node Case of Implementation-Defined Characters, Numeric Characters, Corresponding Characters in the Other Case, Character Categories
@subsubsection Case of Implementation-Defined Characters

An @i{implementation} may define that other @i{implementation-defined}
@i{graphic} @i{characters} have @i{case}.  Such definitions must always
be done in pairs---one @i{uppercase} @i{character} in one-to-one 
@i{correspondence} with one @i{lowercase} @i{character}.

@node Numeric Characters, Alphanumeric Characters, Case of Implementation-Defined Characters, Character Categories
@subsubsection Numeric Characters

The @i{numeric} @i{characters} are
a subset of the @i{graphic} @i{characters}.
Of the @i{standard characters}, only these are @i{numeric} @i{characters}:

@t{0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9}

For each @i{implementation-defined} @i{graphic} @i{character} 
that has no @i{case}, the @i{implementation} must define whether
or not it is a @i{numeric} @i{character}.

@node Alphanumeric Characters, Digits in a Radix, Numeric Characters, Character Categories
@subsubsection Alphanumeric Characters

The set of @i{alphanumeric} @i{characters} is the union of 
    the set of @i{alphabetic}_1 @i{characters} 
and the set of @i{numeric} @i{characters}.

@node Digits in a Radix,  , Alphanumeric Characters, Character Categories
@subsubsection Digits in a Radix

What qualifies as a @i{digit} depends on the @i{radix} 
(an @i{integer} between @t{2} and @t{36}, inclusive).
The potential @i{digits} are:

@t{0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z}

Their respective weights are @t{0}, @t{1}, @t{2}, ... @t{35}.
In any given radix n, only the first n potential @i{digits} 
are considered to be @i{digits}.
For example,
the digits in radix @t{2}  are @t{0} and @t{1}, 
the digits in radix @t{10} are @t{0} through @t{9}, and
the digits in radix @t{16} are @t{0} through @t{F}.

@i{Case} is not significant in @i{digits}; 
for example, in radix @t{16}, both @t{F} and @t{f} 
are @i{digits} with weight @t{15}.

@node Identity of Characters, Ordering of Characters, Character Categories, Character Concepts
@subsection Identity of Characters

Two @i{characters} that are @b{eql}, @b{char=}, or @b{char-equal} 
are not necessarily @b{eq}.

@node Ordering of Characters, Character Names, Identity of Characters, Character Concepts
@subsection Ordering of Characters

The total ordering on @i{characters} is guaranteed to have 
the following properties: 

@table @asis

@item @t{*}  
If two @i{characters} have the same @i{implementation-defined} @i{attributes},
then their ordering by @b{char<} is consistent with the numerical
ordering by the predicate @b{<} on their code @i{attributes}.

@item @t{*}  
If two @i{characters} differ in any @i{attribute}, then they
are not @b{char=}.

[Reviewer Note by Barmar: I wonder if we should say that the ordering may be dependent on the
	          @i{implementation-defined} @i{attributes}.]

@item @t{*}  
The total ordering is not necessarily the same as the total ordering
  on the @i{integers} produced by applying @b{char-int} to the
  @i{characters}.

@item @t{*}  
While @i{alphabetic}_1 @i{standard characters} of a given @i{case}
  must    
  obey a partial ordering,
  they need not be contiguous; it is permissible for 
  @i{uppercase} and @i{lowercase} @i{characters} to be interleaved. 
  Thus @t{(char<= #\a x #\z)} 
  is not a valid way of determining whether or not @t{x} is a
  @i{lowercase} @i{character}.  

@end table

Of the @i{standard characters}, 
those which are @i{alphanumeric} obey the following partial ordering:

@example
 A<B<C<D<E<F<G<H<I<J<K<L<M<N<O<P<Q<R<S<T<U<V<W<X<Y<Z
 a<b<c<d<e<f<g<h<i<j<k<l<m<n<o<p<q<r<s<t<u<v<w<x<y<z
 0<1<2<3<4<5<6<7<8<9
 either 9<A or Z<0
 either 9<a or z<0                                                      
@end example

This implies that, for @i{standard characters}, @i{alphabetic}_1 
ordering holds within each @i{case} (@i{uppercase} and @i{lowercase}), 
and that the @i{numeric} @i{characters} as a group are not interleaved
with @i{alphabetic} @i{characters}.
However, the ordering or possible interleaving of @i{uppercase} @i{characters}
and @i{lowercase} @i{characters} is @i{implementation-defined}.

@node Character Names, Treatment of Newline during Input and Output, Ordering of Characters, Character Concepts
@subsection Character Names

The following @i{character} @i{names} must be present in all 
@i{conforming implementations}:

@table @asis

@item @t{Newline}  
The character that represents the division between lines.
An implementation must translate between @t{#\Newline}, 
a single-character representation, and whatever external representation(s)
may be used.

@item @t{Space}  
The space or blank character.
@end table

The following names are @i{semi-standard}; 
if an @i{implementation} supports them,
they should be used for the described @i{characters} and no others.

@table @asis

@item @t{Rubout}  
The rubout or delete character.

@item @t{Page}  
The form-feed or page-separator character.

@item @t{Tab}  
The tabulate character.

@item @t{Backspace}  
The backspace character.

@item @t{Return}  
The carriage return character.

@item @t{Linefeed}  
The line-feed character.
@end table

In some @i{implementations},
one or more of these @i{character} @i{names} 
might denote a @i{standard character}; 
for example,
@t{#\Linefeed} and @t{#\Newline} might be the @i{same} @i{character}
in some @i{implementations}.

@node Treatment of Newline during Input and Output, Character Encodings, Character Names, Character Concepts
@subsection Treatment of Newline during Input and Output

When the character @t{#\Newline} is written to an output file,
the implementation must take the appropriate action
to produce a line division.  This might involve writing out a
record or translating @t{#\Newline} to a CR/LF sequence.
When reading, a corresponding reverse transformation must take place.

@node Character Encodings, Documentation of Implementation-Defined Scripts, Treatment of Newline during Input and Output, Character Concepts
@subsection Character Encodings

A @i{character} is sometimes represented merely by its @i{code}, and sometimes
by another @i{integer} value which is composed from the @i{code} and all 
@i{implementation-defined} @i{attributes}
(in an @i{implementation-defined} way
that might vary between @i{Lisp images} even in the same @i{implementation}).
This @i{integer}, returned by the function @b{char-int}, is called the
character's ``encoding.''
There is no corresponding function
from a character's encoding back to the @i{character}, 
since its primary intended uses include things like hashing where an inverse operation
is not really called for.

@node Documentation of Implementation-Defined Scripts,  , Character Encodings, Character Concepts
@subsection Documentation of Implementation-Defined Scripts

   An @i{implementation} must document the @i{character} @i{scripts} 
   it supports. For each @i{character} @i{script} supported,
   the documentation must describe at least the following:
@table @asis

@item @t{*}  
Character labels, glyphs, and descriptions.
   Character labels must be uniquely named using only Latin capital letters A--Z,
   hyphen (-), and digits 0--9.
@item @t{*}  
Reader canonicalization.
   Any mechanisms by which @b{read} treats
   @i{different} characters as equivalent must be documented.
@item @t{*}  
The impact on @b{char-upcase},
		 @b{char-downcase},
	     and the case-sensitive @i{format directives}.
   In particular, for each @i{character} with @i{case},
   whether it is @i{uppercase} or @i{lowercase},
   and which @i{character} is its equivalent in the opposite case.
@item @t{*}  
The behavior of the case-insensitive @i{functions}
     @b{char-equal}, @b{char-not-equal},
     @b{char-lessp}, @b{char-greaterp}, 
     @b{char-not-greaterp}, and @b{char-not-lessp}.
@item @t{*}  
The behavior of any @i{character} @i{predicates};
   in particular, the effects of
   @b{alpha-char-p},
   @b{lower-case-p},
   @b{upper-case-p},
   @b{both-case-p},
   @b{graphic-char-p}, 
   and
   @b{alphanumericp}.
@item @t{*}  
The interaction with file I/O, in particular,
   the supported coded character sets (for example, ISO8859/1-1987)
   and external encoding schemes supported are documented.
@end table

@c end of including concept-characters

@node Characters Dictionary,  , Character Concepts, Characters
@section Characters Dictionary

@c including dict-characters

@menu
* character (System Class)::	
* base-char::			
* standard-char::		
* extended-char::		
* char=::			
* character::			
* characterp::			
* alpha-char-p::		
* alphanumericp::		
* digit-char::			
* digit-char-p::		
* graphic-char-p::		
* standard-char-p::		
* char-upcase::			
* upper-case-p::		
* char-code::			
* char-int::			
* code-char::			
* char-code-limit::		
* char-name::			
* name-char::			
@end menu

@node character (System Class), base-char, Characters Dictionary, Characters Dictionary
@subsection character                                                    [System Class]

@subsubheading  Class Precedence List::
@b{character},
@b{t}

@subsubheading  Description::

A @i{character} is an @i{object} that 
represents a unitary token in an aggregate quantity of text;
see @ref{Character Concepts}.

The @i{types} @b{base-char} and @b{extended-char}
form an @i{exhaustive partition} of the @i{type} @b{character}.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{Character Concepts},
@ref{Sharpsign Backslash},
@ref{Printing Characters}

@node base-char, standard-char, character (System Class), Characters Dictionary
@subsection base-char                                                            [Type]

@subsubheading  Supertypes::

@b{base-char},
@b{character},
@b{t}

@subsubheading  Description::

The @i{type} @b{base-char} is defined as the @i{upgraded array element type} 
of @b{standard-char}.
An @i{implementation} can support additional @i{subtypes} of @i{type} @b{character}
(besides the ones listed in this standard) 
that might or might not be @i{supertypes} of @i{type} @b{base-char}.
In addition, an @i{implementation} can define @b{base-char}
to be the @i{same} @i{type} as @b{character}.

@i{Base characters} are distinguished in the following respects:
@table @asis

@item 1.  
The @i{type} @b{standard-char} is a @i{subrepertoire} of the @i{type} @b{base-char}.
@item 2.  
The selection of @i{base characters} that are not @i{standard characters}
	      is implementation defined.
@item 3.  
Only @i{objects} of the @i{type} @b{base-char} can be 
	     @i{elements} of a @i{base string}.
@item 4.  
No upper bound is specified for the number of characters in the 
@b{base-char} @i{repertoire}; the size of that @i{repertoire}
is 
@i{implementation-defined}.
The lower bound is~96, the number of @i{standard characters}.
@end table

Whether a character is a @i{base character} depends on the way 
that an @i{implementation} represents @i{strings}, 
and not any other properties of the @i{implementation} or the host operating system.  
For example, one implementation might encode all @i{strings} 
as characters having 16-bit encodings, and another might have
two kinds of @i{strings}: those with characters having 8-bit 
encodings and those with characters having 16-bit encodings.  In the
first @i{implementation}, the @i{type} @b{base-char} is equivalent to
the @i{type} @b{character}: there is only one kind of @i{string}.
In the second @i{implementation}, the @i{base characters} might be 
those @i{characters} that could be stored in a @i{string} of @i{characters}
having 8-bit encodings.  In such an implementation,
the @i{type} @b{base-char} is a @i{proper subtype} of the @i{type} @b{character}.

The @i{type} @b{standard-char} is a 

@i{subtype} of @i{type} @b{base-char}.

@node standard-char, extended-char, base-char, Characters Dictionary
@subsection standard-char                                                        [Type]

@subsubheading  Supertypes::

@b{standard-char},

@b{base-char},

@b{character},
@b{t}

@subsubheading  Description::

A fixed set of 96 @i{characters} required to be present in all 
@i{conforming implementations}.  @i{Standard characters} are 
defined in @ref{Standard Characters}.

Any @i{character} that is not @i{simple} is not a @i{standard character}.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{Standard Characters}

@node extended-char, char=, standard-char, Characters Dictionary
@subsection extended-char                                                        [Type]

@subsubheading  Supertypes::

@b{extended-char},
@b{character},
@b{t}

@subsubheading  Description::

The @i{type} @b{extended-char} is equivalent to the @i{type} @t{(and character (not base-char))}.

@subsubheading  Notes::

The @i{type} @b{extended-char} might 
have no @i{elements}_4
in @i{implementations} in which all @i{characters} are of @i{type} @b{base-char}.

@node char=, character, extended-char, Characters Dictionary
@subsection char=, char/=, char<, char>, char<=, char>=, 
@subheading char-equal, char-not-equal, char-lessp, char-greaterp, char-not-greaterp,
@subheading char-not-lessp
@flushright
@i{[Function]}
@end flushright

@code{{char=}}  @i{{&rest} characters^+} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@code{{char/=}}  @i{{&rest} characters^+} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@code{{char<}}  @i{{&rest} characters^+} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@code{{char>}}  @i{{&rest} characters^+} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@code{{char<=}}  @i{{&rest} characters^+} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@code{{char>=}}  @i{{&rest} characters^+} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@code{char-equal}  @i{{&rest} characters^+} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@code{char-not-equal}  @i{{&rest} characters^+} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@code{char-lessp}  @i{{&rest} characters^+} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@code{char-greaterp}  @i{{&rest} characters^+} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@code{char-not-greaterp}  @i{{&rest} characters^+} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@code{char-not-lessp}  @i{{&rest} characters^+} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values::

@i{character}---a @i{character}.

@i{generalized-boolean}---a @i{generalized boolean}.

@subsubheading  Description::

These predicates compare @i{characters}.

@b{char=} returns @i{true} if all @i{characters} are the @i{same};
otherwise, it returns @i{false}.

If two @i{characters} differ 
in any @i{implementation-defined} @i{attributes},
then they are not @b{char=}.

@b{char/=} returns @i{true} if all @i{characters} are different;
otherwise, it returns @i{false}.

@b{char<} returns @i{true} if the @i{characters} are monotonically increasing; 
otherwise, it returns @i{false}.

If two @i{characters} 
have @i{identical} @i{implementation-defined} @i{attributes}, 
then their ordering by @b{char<} is 
consistent with the numerical ordering by the predicate @t{<} on their @i{codes}.

@b{char>} returns @i{true} if the @i{characters} are monotonically decreasing; 
otherwise, it returns @i{false}.

If two @i{characters} have 
@i{identical} @i{implementation-defined} @i{attributes},
then their ordering by @b{char>} is 
consistent with the numerical ordering by the predicate @t{>} on their @i{codes}. 

@b{char<=} returns @i{true} 
if the @i{characters} are monotonically nondecreasing; 
otherwise, it returns @i{false}.

If two @i{characters} have
@i{identical} @i{implementation-defined} @i{attributes},
then their ordering by @b{char<=} is
consistent with the numerical ordering by the predicate @t{<=} on their @i{codes}. 

@b{char>=} returns @i{true} 
if the @i{characters} are monotonically nonincreasing; 
otherwise, it returns @i{false}.

If two @i{characters} have
@i{identical} @i{implementation-defined} @i{attributes},
then their ordering by @b{char>=} is 
consistent with the numerical ordering by the predicate @t{>=} on their @i{codes}. 

    @b{char-equal},
    @b{char-not-equal},
    @b{char-lessp},
    @b{char-greaterp},
    @b{char-not-greaterp},
and @b{char-not-lessp}
are similar to 
    @b{char=},
    @b{char/=},
    @b{char<},
    @b{char>},
    @b{char<=},
    @b{char>=},
respectively,
except that they ignore differences in @i{case} and

might have an @i{implementation-defined} behavior 
for @i{non-simple} @i{characters}.
For example, an @i{implementation} might define that 
@b{char-equal}, @i{etc.} ignore certain 
@i{implementation-defined} @i{attributes}.
The effect, if any, 
of each @i{implementation-defined} @i{attribute}
upon these functions must be specified as part of the definition of that @i{attribute}.

@subsubheading  Examples::

@example
 (char= #\d #\d) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char= #\A #\a) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char= #\d #\x) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char= #\d #\D) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char/= #\d #\d) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char/= #\d #\x) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char/= #\d #\D) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char= #\d #\d #\d #\d) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char/= #\d #\d #\d #\d) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char= #\d #\d #\x #\d) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char/= #\d #\d #\x #\d) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char= #\d #\y #\x #\c) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char/= #\d #\y #\x #\c) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char= #\d #\c #\d) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char/= #\d #\c #\d) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char< #\d #\x) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char<= #\d #\x) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char< #\d #\d) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char<= #\d #\d) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char< #\a #\e #\y #\z) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char<= #\a #\e #\y #\z) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char< #\a #\e #\e #\y) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char<= #\a #\e #\e #\y) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char> #\e #\d) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char>= #\e #\d) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char> #\d #\c #\b #\a) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char>= #\d #\c #\b #\a) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char> #\d #\d #\c #\a) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char>= #\d #\d #\c #\a) @result{}  @i{true}
 (char> #\e #\d #\b #\c #\a) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char>= #\e #\d #\b #\c #\a) @result{}  @i{false}
 (char> #\z #\A) @result{}  @i{implementation-dependent}
 (char> #\Z #\a) @result{}  @i{implementation-dependent}
 (char-equal #\A #\a) @result{}  @i{true}
 (stable-sort (list #\b #\A #\B #\a #\c #\C) #'char-lessp)
@result{}  (#\A #\a #\b #\B #\c #\C)
 (stable-sort (list #\b #\A #\B #\a #\c #\C) #'char<)
@result{}  (#\A #\B #\C #\a #\b #\c) ;Implementation A
@result{}  (#\a #\b #\c #\A #\B #\C) ;Implementation B
@result{}  (#\a #\A #\b #\B #\c #\C) ;Implementation C
@result{}  (#\A #\a #\B #\b #\C #\c) ;Implementation D
@result{}  (#\A #\B #\a #\b #\C #\c) ;Implementation E
@end example

@subsubheading  Exceptional Situations::

Should signal an error of @i{type} @b{program-error} 
		       if at least one @i{character} is not supplied.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{Character Syntax},
@ref{Documentation of Implementation-Defined Scripts}

@subsubheading  Notes::

If characters differ in their @i{code} @i{attribute} 
or any @i{implementation-defined} @i{attribute},
they are considered to be different by @b{char=}.

There is no requirement that @t{(eq c1 c2)} be true merely because
@t{(char= c1 c2)} is @i{true}.  While @b{eq} can distinguish two 
@i{characters}
that @b{char=} does not, it is distinguishing them not
as @i{characters}, but in some sense on the basis of a lower level
implementation characteristic.
If @t{(eq c1 c2)} is @i{true},
then @t{(char= c1 c2)} is also true.
@b{eql} and @b{equal}
compare @i{characters} in the same
way that @b{char=} does.

The manner in which @i{case} is used by 
     @b{char-equal},
     @b{char-not-equal},
     @b{char-lessp},
     @b{char-greaterp},
     @b{char-not-greaterp},
 and @b{char-not-lessp}
implies an ordering for @i{standard characters} such that
@t{A=a}, @t{B=b}, and so on, up to @t{Z=z}, and furthermore either
@t{9<A} or @t{Z<0}.

@node character, characterp, char=, Characters Dictionary
@subsection character                                                        [Function]

@code{character}  @i{character} @result{}  @i{denoted-character}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values:: 

@i{character}---a @i{character designator}.

@i{denoted-character}---a @i{character}.

@subsubheading  Description::

Returns the @i{character} denoted by the @i{character} @i{designator}.

@subsubheading  Examples::

@example
 (character #\a) @result{}  #\a
 (character "a") @result{}  #\a
 (character 'a) @result{}  #\A
 (character '\a) @result{}  #\a
 (character 65.) is an error.
 (character 'apple) is an error.
@end example

@subsubheading  Exceptional Situations::

Should signal an error of @i{type} @b{type-error}
			      if @i{object} is not a @i{character designator}.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{coerce}

@subsubheading  Notes::

@example
 (character @i{object}) @equiv{} (coerce @i{object} 'character)
@end example

@node characterp, alpha-char-p, character, Characters Dictionary
@subsection characterp                                                       [Function]

@code{characterp}  @i{object} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values::

@i{object}---an @i{object}.

@i{generalized-boolean}---a @i{generalized boolean}.

@subsubheading  Description::

Returns @i{true} if @i{object} is of @i{type} @b{character};
otherwise, returns @i{false}.

@subsubheading  Examples::                  

@example
 (characterp #\a) @result{}  @i{true}
 (characterp 'a) @result{}  @i{false}
 (characterp "a") @result{}  @i{false}
 (characterp 65.) @result{}  @i{false}
 (characterp #\Newline) @result{}  @i{true}
 ;; This next example presupposes an implementation 
 ;; in which #\Rubout is an implementation-defined character.
 (characterp #\Rubout) @result{}  @i{true}
@end example

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{character}
 (@i{type} and @i{function}), 
@ref{typep}

@subsubheading  Notes::

@example
 (characterp @i{object}) @equiv{} (typep @i{object} 'character)
@end example

@node alpha-char-p, alphanumericp, characterp, Characters Dictionary
@subsection alpha-char-p                                                     [Function]

@code{alpha-char-p}  @i{character} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values::

@i{character}---a @i{character}.

@i{generalized-boolean}---a @i{generalized boolean}.

@subsubheading  Description::

Returns @i{true} if @i{character} is an @i{alphabetic}_1 @i{character};
otherwise, returns @i{false}.

@subsubheading  Examples::

@example
 (alpha-char-p #\a) @result{}  @i{true}
 (alpha-char-p #\5) @result{}  @i{false}
 (alpha-char-p #\Newline) @result{}  @i{false}
 ;; This next example presupposes an implementation
 ;; in which #\\alpha is a defined character.
 (alpha-char-p #\\alpha) @result{}  @i{implementation-dependent}
@end example

@subsubheading  Affected By::

None.
(In particular, the results of this predicate are independent 
of any special syntax which might have been enabled in the @i{current readtable}.)

@subsubheading  Exceptional Situations::

Should signal an error of @i{type} @b{type-error}
			      if @i{character} is not a @i{character}.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{alphanumericp}
,
@ref{Documentation of Implementation-Defined Scripts}

@node alphanumericp, digit-char, alpha-char-p, Characters Dictionary
@subsection alphanumericp                                                    [Function]

@code{alphanumericp}  @i{character} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values:: 

@i{character}---a @i{character}.

@i{generalized-boolean}---a @i{generalized boolean}.

@subsubheading  Description::

Returns @i{true} if @i{character} is an @i{alphabetic}_1 @i{character} 
		   or a  @i{numeric}    @i{character};
otherwise, returns @i{false}.

@subsubheading  Examples::

@example
 (alphanumericp #\Z) @result{}  @i{true}
 (alphanumericp #\9) @result{}  @i{true}
 (alphanumericp #\Newline) @result{}  @i{false}
 (alphanumericp #\#) @result{}  @i{false}
@end example

@subsubheading  Affected By::

None.
(In particular, the results of this predicate are independent 
of any special syntax which might have been enabled in the @i{current readtable}.)

@subsubheading  Exceptional Situations::

Should signal an error of @i{type} @b{type-error}
			      if @i{character} is not a @i{character}.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{alpha-char-p}
, 
@ref{graphic-char-p}
, 
@ref{digit-char-p}

@subsubheading  Notes::

Alphanumeric characters are graphic
as defined by @b{graphic-char-p}.
The alphanumeric characters are a subset of the graphic characters.
The standard characters @t{A} through @t{Z},
		        @t{a} through @t{z},
		    and @t{0} through @t{9} are alphanumeric characters.

@example
 (alphanumericp x)
   @equiv{} (or (alpha-char-p x) (not (null (digit-char-p x))))
@end example

@node digit-char, digit-char-p, alphanumericp, Characters Dictionary
@subsection digit-char                                                       [Function]

@code{digit-char}  @i{weight {&optional} radix} @result{}  @i{char}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values::

@i{weight}---a non-negative @i{integer}.

@i{radix}---a @i{radix}.
 The default is @t{10}.

@i{char}---a @i{character} or @i{false}.

@subsubheading  Description::   

If @i{weight} is less than @i{radix},
@b{digit-char} returns a @i{character} which has that @i{weight}
when considered as a digit in the specified radix.
If the resulting @i{character} is to be an @i{alphabetic}_1 @i{character},
it will be an uppercase @i{character}.

If @i{weight} is greater than or equal to @i{radix},
@b{digit-char} returns @i{false}.

@subsubheading  Examples::

@example
 (digit-char 0) @result{}  #\0
 (digit-char 10 11) @result{}  #\A
 (digit-char 10 10) @result{}  @i{false}
 (digit-char 7) @result{}  #\7
 (digit-char 12) @result{}  @i{false}
 (digit-char 12 16) @result{}  #\C  ;not #\c
 (digit-char 6 2) @result{}  @i{false}
 (digit-char 1 2) @result{}  #\1
@end example

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{digit-char-p}
,
@ref{graphic-char-p}
,
@ref{Character Syntax}

@subsubheading  Notes::

@node digit-char-p, graphic-char-p, digit-char, Characters Dictionary
@subsection digit-char-p                                                     [Function]

@code{digit-char-p}  @i{char {&optional} radix} @result{}  @i{weight}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values::

@i{char}---a @i{character}.

@i{radix}---a @i{radix}.
 The default is @t{10}.

@i{weight}---either a non-negative @i{integer} less than @i{radix}, 
		 or @i{false}.

@subsubheading  Description::

Tests whether @i{char} is a digit in the specified @i{radix}
(@i{i.e.}, with a weight less than @i{radix}).
If it is a digit in that @i{radix},
its weight is returned as an @i{integer}; 
otherwise @b{nil} is returned.

@subsubheading  Examples::

@example
 (digit-char-p #\5)    @result{}  5
 (digit-char-p #\5 2)  @result{}  @i{false}
 (digit-char-p #\A)    @result{}  @i{false}
 (digit-char-p #\a)    @result{}  @i{false}
 (digit-char-p #\A 11) @result{}  10
 (digit-char-p #\a 11) @result{}  10
 (mapcar #'(lambda (radix) 
             (map 'list #'(lambda (x) (digit-char-p x radix)) 
                  "059AaFGZ"))
         '(2 8 10 16 36))
 @result{}  ((0 NIL NIL NIL NIL NIL NIL NIL)
     (0 5 NIL NIL NIL NIL NIL NIL)
     (0 5 9 NIL NIL NIL NIL NIL)
     (0 5 9 10 10 15 NIL NIL)
     (0 5 9 10 10 15 16 35))
@end example

@subsubheading  Affected By::

None.
(In particular, the results of this predicate are independent 
of any special syntax which might have been enabled in the @i{current readtable}.)

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{alphanumericp}

@subsubheading  Notes::

Digits are @i{graphic} @i{characters}.

@node graphic-char-p, standard-char-p, digit-char-p, Characters Dictionary
@subsection graphic-char-p                                                   [Function]

@code{graphic-char-p}  @i{char} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values::

@i{char}---a @i{character}.

@i{generalized-boolean}---a @i{generalized boolean}.

@subsubheading  Description::

Returns @i{true} if @i{character} is a @i{graphic} @i{character};
otherwise, returns @i{false}.

@subsubheading  Examples::                   

@example
 (graphic-char-p #\G) @result{}  @i{true}
 (graphic-char-p #\#) @result{}  @i{true}
 (graphic-char-p #\Space) @result{}  @i{true}
 (graphic-char-p #\Newline) @result{}  @i{false}
@end example

@subsubheading  Exceptional Situations::

Should signal an error of @i{type} @b{type-error}
			      if @i{character} is not a @i{character}.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{read; read-preserving-whitespace}
,
@ref{Character Syntax},
@ref{Documentation of Implementation-Defined Scripts}

@node standard-char-p, char-upcase, graphic-char-p, Characters Dictionary
@subsection standard-char-p                                                  [Function]

@code{standard-char-p}  @i{character} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values::

@i{character}---a @i{character}.

@i{generalized-boolean}---a @i{generalized boolean}.

@subsubheading  Description::

Returns @i{true} if @i{character} is of @i{type} @b{standard-char};
otherwise, returns @i{false}.

@subsubheading  Examples::                

@example
 (standard-char-p #\Space) @result{}  @i{true}
 (standard-char-p #\~) @result{}  @i{true}
 ;; This next example presupposes an implementation
 ;; in which #\Bell is a defined character.
 (standard-char-p #\Bell) @result{}  @i{false}
@end example

@subsubheading  Exceptional Situations::

Should signal an error of @i{type} @b{type-error}
			      if @i{character} is not a @i{character}.

@node char-upcase, upper-case-p, standard-char-p, Characters Dictionary
@subsection char-upcase, char-downcase                                       [Function]

@code{char-upcase}  @i{character} @result{}  @i{corresponding-character}

@code{char-downcase}  @i{character} @result{}  @i{corresponding-character}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values:: 

@i{character}, @i{corresponding-character}---a @i{character}.

@subsubheading  Description::

If @i{character} is a @i{lowercase} @i{character},
@b{char-upcase} returns the corresponding @i{uppercase} @i{character}.
Otherwise, @b{char-upcase} just returns the given @i{character}.

If @i{character} is an @i{uppercase} @i{character},
@b{char-downcase} returns the corresponding @i{lowercase} @i{character}.
Otherwise, @b{char-downcase} just returns the given @i{character}.

The result only ever differs from @i{character} 
in its @i{code} @i{attribute};
all @i{implementation-defined} @i{attributes} are preserved.

@subsubheading  Examples::

@example
 (char-upcase #\a) @result{}  #\A
 (char-upcase #\A) @result{}  #\A
 (char-downcase #\a) @result{}  #\a
 (char-downcase #\A) @result{}  #\a
 (char-upcase #\9) @result{}  #\9
 (char-downcase #\9) @result{}  #\9
 (char-upcase #\@@) @result{}  #\@@
 (char-downcase #\@@) @result{}  #\@@
 ;; Note that this next example might run for a very long time in 
 ;; some implementations if CHAR-CODE-LIMIT happens to be very large
 ;; for that implementation.
 (dotimes (code char-code-limit)
   (let ((char (code-char code)))
     (when char
       (unless (cond ((upper-case-p char) (char= (char-upcase (char-downcase char)) char))
                     ((lower-case-p char) (char= (char-downcase (char-upcase char)) char))
                     (t (and (char= (char-upcase (char-downcase char)) char)
                             (char= (char-downcase (char-upcase char)) char))))
         (return char)))))
@result{}  NIL
@end example

@subsubheading  Exceptional Situations::

Should signal an error of @i{type} @b{type-error}
			      if @i{character} is not a @i{character}.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{upper-case-p; lower-case-p; both-case-p}
,
@ref{alpha-char-p}
,
@ref{Characters With Case},
@ref{Documentation of Implementation-Defined Scripts}

@subsubheading  Notes::

If the @i{corresponding-char} is @i{different} than @i{character},
then both the @i{character} and the @i{corresponding-char} have @i{case}.

Since @b{char-equal} ignores the @i{case} of the @i{characters} it compares,
the @i{corresponding-character} is always the @i{same} as @i{character}
under @b{char-equal}.

@node upper-case-p, char-code, char-upcase, Characters Dictionary
@subsection upper-case-p, lower-case-p, both-case-p                          [Function]

@code{upper-case-p}  @i{character} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@code{lower-case-p}  @i{character} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@code{both-case-p}  @i{character} @result{}  @i{generalized-boolean}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values::

@i{character}---a @i{character}.

@i{generalized-boolean}---a @i{generalized boolean}.

@subsubheading  Description::

These functions test the case of a given @i{character}.

@b{upper-case-p} returns @i{true} if @i{character} is an @i{uppercase} @i{character};
otherwise, returns @i{false}.

@b{lower-case-p} returns @i{true} if @i{character} is a @i{lowercase} @i{character};
otherwise, returns @i{false}.

@b{both-case-p} returns @i{true} if @i{character} is a @i{character} with @i{case};
otherwise, returns @i{false}.

@subsubheading  Examples::

@example
 (upper-case-p #\A) @result{}  @i{true}
 (upper-case-p #\a) @result{}  @i{false}
 (both-case-p #\a) @result{}  @i{true}
 (both-case-p #\5) @result{}  @i{false}
 (lower-case-p #\5) @result{}  @i{false}
 (upper-case-p #\5) @result{}  @i{false}
 ;; This next example presupposes an implementation 
 ;; in which #\Bell is an implementation-defined character.
 (lower-case-p #\Bell) @result{}  @i{false}
@end example

@subsubheading  Exceptional Situations::

Should signal an error of @i{type} @b{type-error}
			      if @i{character} is not a @i{character}.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{char-upcase; char-downcase}
,
@b{char-downcase},
@ref{Characters With Case},
@ref{Documentation of Implementation-Defined Scripts}

@node char-code, char-int, upper-case-p, Characters Dictionary
@subsection char-code                                                        [Function]

@code{char-code}  @i{character} @result{}  @i{code}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values:: 

@i{character}---a @i{character}.

@i{code}---a @i{character code}.

@subsubheading  Description::

@b{char-code} returns the @i{code} @i{attribute} of @i{character}.

@subsubheading  Examples::

@example
;; An implementation using ASCII character encoding 
;; might return these values:
(char-code #\$) @result{}  36
(char-code #\a) @result{}  97
@end example

@subsubheading  Exceptional Situations::

Should signal an error of @i{type} @b{type-error}
			      if @i{character} is not a @i{character}.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{char-code-limit}

@node char-int, code-char, char-code, Characters Dictionary
@subsection char-int                                                         [Function]

@code{char-int}  @i{character} @result{}  @i{integer}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values:: 

@i{character}---a @i{character}.

@i{integer}---a non-negative @i{integer}.

@subsubheading  Description::

Returns a non-negative @i{integer} encoding the @i{character} object.
The manner in which the @i{integer} is computed is @i{implementation-dependent}.
In contrast to @b{sxhash}, the result is not guaranteed to be independent 
of the particular @i{Lisp image}.

If @i{character} has no @i{implementation-defined} @i{attributes},
the results of @b{char-int} and @b{char-code} are the same. 

@example
 (char= @i{c1} @i{c2}) @equiv{} (= (char-int @i{c1}) (char-int @i{c2}))
@end example

for characters @i{c1} and @i{c2}.

@subsubheading  Examples::

@example
 (char-int #\A) @result{}  65       ; implementation A
 (char-int #\A) @result{}  577      ; implementation B
 (char-int #\A) @result{}  262145   ; implementation C
@end example

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{char-code}

@node code-char, char-code-limit, char-int, Characters Dictionary
@subsection code-char                                                        [Function]

@code{code-char}  @i{code} @result{}  @i{char-p}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values::

@i{code}---a @i{character code}.

@i{char-p}---a @i{character} or @b{nil}.

@subsubheading  Description::

Returns a @i{character} with the @i{code} @i{attribute} given by @i{code}.
If no such @i{character} exists and one cannot be created, @b{nil} is returned.

@subsubheading  Examples::

@example
(code-char 65.) @result{}  #\A  ;in an implementation using ASCII codes
(code-char (char-code #\Space)) @result{}  #\Space  ;in any implementation
@end example

@subsubheading  Affected By::

The @i{implementation}'s character encoding.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{char-code}

@subsubheading  Notes::

@node char-code-limit, char-name, code-char, Characters Dictionary
@subsection char-code-limit                                         [Constant Variable]

@subsubheading  Constant Value::

A non-negative @i{integer}, the exact magnitude of which
is @i{implementation-dependent}, but which is not less
than @t{96} (the number of @i{standard characters}).

@subsubheading  Description::

The upper exclusive bound on the @i{value} returned by 
the @i{function} @b{char-code}.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{char-code}

@subsubheading  Notes::

The @i{value} of @b{char-code-limit} might be larger than the actual
number of @i{characters} supported by the @i{implementation}.

@node char-name, name-char, char-code-limit, Characters Dictionary
@subsection char-name                                                        [Function]

@code{char-name}  @i{character} @result{}  @i{name}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values::

@i{character}---a @i{character}.

@i{name}---a @i{string} or @b{nil}.

@subsubheading  Description::

Returns a @i{string} that is the @i{name} of the @i{character},
or @b{nil} if the @i{character} has no @i{name}.

All @i{non-graphic} characters are required to have @i{names}
unless they have some @i{implementation-defined} @i{attribute}
which is not @i{null}.  Whether or not other @i{characters}
have @i{names} is @i{implementation-dependent}.

The @i{standard characters}
<@i{Newline}> and <@i{Space}> have the respective names @t{"Newline"} and @t{"Space"}.
The @i{semi-standard} @i{characters}
<@i{Tab}>, <@i{Page}>, <@i{Rubout}>, <@i{Linefeed}>, <@i{Return}>, and <@i{Backspace}> 
(if they are supported by the @i{implementation})
have the respective names
@t{"Tab"},  @t{"Page"},  @t{"Rubout"},  @t{"Linefeed"},  @t{"Return"}, and @t{"Backspace"}
(in the indicated case, even though name lookup by ``@t{#\}'' 
and by the @i{function} @b{name-char} is not case sensitive).

@subsubheading  Examples::

@example
 (char-name #\ ) @result{}  "Space"
 (char-name #\Space) @result{}  "Space"
 (char-name #\Page) @result{}  "Page"

 (char-name #\a)
@result{}  NIL
@i{OR}@result{} "LOWERCASE-a"
@i{OR}@result{} "Small-A"
@i{OR}@result{} "LA01"

 (char-name #\A)
@result{}  NIL
@i{OR}@result{} "UPPERCASE-A"
@i{OR}@result{} "Capital-A"
@i{OR}@result{} "LA02"

 ;; Even though its CHAR-NAME can vary, #\A prints as #\A
 (prin1-to-string (read-from-string (format nil "#\\~A" (or (char-name #\A) "A"))))
@result{}  "#\\A"
@end example

@subsubheading  Exceptional Situations::

Should signal an error of @i{type} @b{type-error}
			      if @i{character} is not a @i{character}.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{name-char}
,
@ref{Printing Characters}

@subsubheading  Notes::

@i{Non-graphic} 
@i{characters} having @i{names} are written by the @i{Lisp printer}
as ``@t{#\}'' followed by the their @i{name}; see @ref{Printing Characters}.

@node name-char,  , char-name, Characters Dictionary
@subsection name-char                                                        [Function]

@code{name-char}  @i{name} @result{}  @i{char-p}

@subsubheading  Arguments and Values::

@i{name}---a @i{string designator}.

@i{char-p}---a @i{character} or @b{nil}.

@subsubheading  Description::

Returns the @i{character} @i{object} whose @i{name} is
@i{name} (as determined by @b{string-equal}---@i{i.e.}, lookup is not case sensitive).
If such a @i{character} does not exist, @b{nil} is returned.

@subsubheading  Examples::

@example
(name-char 'space) @result{}  #\Space
(name-char "space") @result{}  #\Space
(name-char "Space") @result{}  #\Space
(let ((x (char-name #\a)))
  (or (not x) (eql (name-char x) #\a))) @result{}  @i{true}
@end example

@subsubheading  Exceptional Situations::

Should signal an error of @i{type} @b{type-error}
			      if @i{name} is not a @i{string designator}.

@subsubheading  See Also::

@ref{char-name}

@c end of including dict-characters

@c %**end of chapter

