definition of character

[r12a]

11.1.1. Definitions
https://svgwg.org/svg2-draft/text.html#Definitions

character

A character is an atomic unit of text as defined in XML [XML].

Essentially, a Unicode character. ...

The wording here is still a little vague. We generally recommend referring to a character as a Unicode code point.

We also recommend using specific terms, where available, rather than the general term 'character'.

[nikosandronikos]

I think it's important that we maintain consistent terminology with CSS, so where they use 'character', so should we.
Though I suspect that generally we should be using 'typographic character' in most places where 'character' is used.

[nikosandronikos]

Ok my understanding has improved somewhat since I last commented.

Curious @r12a why you recommend referring to a character as a unicode code point?
I agree that 'character' is vague and should be avoided, but a 'user perceived character', which is what grapheme clusters approximate can require multiple code points. I don't see how relating 'character' to 'code point' helps anything.

It looks like we need to go through the text chapter and ensure we only use the following terms:

• code point
• typographic character
• what else do we need?

[Tavmjong]

I agree "character" is a bit vague (so is "typographic character" but maybe bit less). The definition of "character" is from SVG 1.1. I believe it is meant to correspond to a Unicode point. In terms of input, a 'u' with a combining '`' would be two points while using the preformed 'ù' is one point. This has mostly to do with how the 'x', 'y', ... attributes are matched to the input.

[nikosandronikos]

If it's meant to correspond to an XML character as the description says then it would be equivalent to a 'typographic character' rather than a code point.
My concern is that in the text that came from SVG 1.1 it might be used to mean either.

[AmeliaBR]

"character" in SVG 1.1 was used in a multiple senses. SVG 2 distinguishes "typographic character" (an indivisible unit, used for rendering) versus "addressable character" (a 2-byte block when normalizing the string to UTF-16, after adjusting for whitespace and display, used for counting). Both are distinct from "Unicode code point", which is what the general definition is referring to.

I agree that we should make sure any normative text refers to either typographic character, addressable character, or Unicode code point. The general definition for "character" could also emphasize that the term is a little imprecise, and cross-link to those more specific definitions later in the terms list.

[fantasai]

I think this means I should take an action item to update the extremely outdated /TR publication of CSS3 Text so that you can refer to its definitions. =) (You'll still need your own for addressable character... we don't have that in CSS3 Text.)

[Tavmjong]

@fantasai Please do update CSS3 Text! That would be very helpful!

[dirkschulze]

Discussion moved to #537