Character vs. Feature — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 5, 2024
"Character" refers to distinctive qualities or attributes of someone or something, often defining personality or essence, while "feature" typically denotes a specific, observable aspect or detail of an object or person.
Difference Between Character and Feature
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Character" is used to describe the set of qualities or attributes that distinctly define a person, group, or thing's nature or personality. It often relates to moral, ethical, and emotional qualities, shaping how individuals or entities are perceived. In contrast, "feature" refers to specific, distinguishable parts or aspects of a physical entity or concept, focusing on physical characteristics, functionalities, or any prominent detail that stands out.
In literature and human psychology, character traits might include honesty, integrity, and courage, which define and drive an individual's behavior and decisions. On the other hand, features could describe physical attributes like eye color, or functional aspects of products, such as a smartphone's camera quality or a car’s horsepower.
Character is typically discussed in terms of development or assessment, such as in stories where a character grows and evolves, or in evaluations of a person's reliability or temperament. Whereas, features are usually highlighted when describing, comparing, or marketing objects or services, emphasizing what makes them unique or appealing.
Character can imply a deeper, often abstract quality that affects long-term perceptions and relationships, such as trustworthiness or resilience. Meanwhile, features might be more superficial or immediately observable, contributing to first impressions or practical uses but not necessarily to deeper understanding or emotional connection.
While character is more about the essence that pervades and influences actions or narratives, features are tangible or specific attributes that can be isolated and described independently from the whole, often used to differentiate or make decisions about the usability or desirability of an object or service.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Distinct qualities defining personality or essence
Specific, observable aspects or details
Focus
Moral, ethical, emotional qualities
Physical characteristics, functionalities
Context
Human behavior, literature
Product descriptions, functionality
Impact
Influences long-term perception and relationships
Affects usability, immediate impressions
Example Usage
Describing integrity, courage
Describing a smartphone’s camera, a car's engine
Compare with Definitions
Character
The sum of all ethical and moral qualities of a person.
Her character is exemplified by her unwavering honesty.
Feature
Can denote a physical characteristic of a person.
Her eyes are her most prominent feature.
Character
Often used to describe the disposition or temperament.
The novel’s protagonist is a character marked by great resilience.
Feature
A specific part or aspect of something that is noticeable.
The most striking feature of the building is its modern architecture.
Character
Can refer to distinctive qualities of a group or culture.
The character of the city is vibrant and welcoming.
Feature
In software, refers to a particular capability or function.
The software’s latest feature allows users to customize their dashboard.
Character
In fiction, represents the personality and traits that evolve throughout the story.
The character development in the story highlights a journey from selfishness to altruism.
Feature
Often refers to innovations or functionalities of products.
The new phone model boasts an improved battery life as a key feature.
Character
Reflects the deeper, often non-visible traits that influence behavior.
His strong character helped him overcome many hardships.
Feature
Used to describe distinct attributes in nature or art.
A waterfall is a dramatic feature of the natural landscape.
Character
The combination of mental characteristics and behavior that distinguishes a person or group.
Feature
Any of the distinct parts of the face, as the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Character
The distinguishing nature of something.
Feature
Often features The overall appearance of the face or its parts.
Character
Moral strength; integrity
An educational program designed to develop character.
Feature
A prominent or distinctive part, quality, or characteristic
A feature of one's personality.
A feature of the landscape.
Character
Public estimation of someone; reputation
Personal attacks that damaged her character.
Feature
A property of linguistic units or forms
Nasality is a phonological feature.
Character
(Biology) A structure, function, or attribute of an organism, influenced by genetic, environmental, and developmental factors.
Feature
In generative linguistics, any of various abstract entities that specify or combine to specify phonological, morphological, semantic, and syntactic properties of linguistic forms and that act as the targets of linguistic rules and operations.
Character
A person considered as having a specific quality or attribute
"Being a man of the world and a public character, [he] took everything as a matter of course" (George Eliot).
Feature
The main film presentation at a theater.
Character
A person considered funny or eccentric
Catcalls from some character in the back row.
Feature
A long, narrative movie, typically lasting more than one hour.
Character
A person portrayed in an artistic piece, such as a drama or novel.
Feature
A special attraction at an entertainment.
Character
A person or animal portrayed with a personality in comics or animation
A cartoon character.
Feature
A prominent or special article, story, or department in a newspaper or periodical.
Character
Characterization in fiction or drama
A script that is weak in plot but strong in character.
Feature
An item advertised or offered as particularly attractive or as an inducement
A washing machine with many features.
Character
Status or role; capacity
In his character as the father.
Feature
Outward appearance; form or shape.
Character
A description of a person's attributes, traits, or abilities.
Feature
Physical beauty.
Character
A formal written statement as to competency and dependability, given by an employer to a former employee; a recommendation.
Feature
To give special attention to; display, publicize, or make prominent.
Character
A mark or symbol used in a writing system.
Feature
To have or include as a prominent part or characteristic
The play featured two well-known actors.
Character
A Chinese character.
Feature
To depict or outline the features of.
Character
One of a set of symbols, such as letters or numbers, that are arranged to express information.
Feature
(Informal) To picture mentally; imagine
Can you feature her in that hat?.
Character
The numerical code representing such a character.
Feature
(obsolete) One's structure or make-up: form, shape, bodily proportions.
Character
(Mathematics) The trace function of a representation.
Feature
An important or main item.
Character
A style of printing or writing
"Here is the hand and seal of the Duke.
You know the character" (Shakespeare).
Feature
(media) A long, prominent article or item in the media, or the department that creates them; frequently used technically to distinguish content from news.
Character
A cipher or code for secret writing.
Feature
(film) feature film
Character
Of or relating to one's character.
Feature
Any of the physical constituents of the face (eyes, nose, etc.).
Character
Specializing in the interpretation of often minor roles that emphasize fixed personality traits or specific physical characteristics
A character actor.
Feature
(computing) A beneficial capability of a piece of software.
Character
Of or relating to the interpretation of such roles by an actor
The character part of the hero's devoted mother.
Feature
The cast or structure of anything, or of any part of a thing, as of a landscape, a picture, a treaty, or an essay; any marked peculiarity or characteristic.
One of the features of the landscape
Character
Dedicated to the portrayal of a person with regard to distinguishing psychological or physical features
A character sketch.
Feature
(archaeology) Something discerned from physical evidence that helps define, identify, characterize, and interpret an archeological site.
A feature of many Central Texas prehistoric archeological sites is a low spreading pile of stones called a rock midden. Other features at these sites may include small hearths.
Character
To write, print, engrave, or inscribe.
Feature
(engineering) Characteristic forms or shapes of parts. For example, a hole, boss, slot, cut, chamfer, or fillet.
Character
To portray or describe; characterize.
Feature
An individual measurable property or characteristic of a phenomenon being observed; the input of a model.
Character
(countable) A being involved in the action of a story.
Feature
(music) The act of being featured in a piece of music.
Character
(countable) A distinguishing feature; characteristic; trait; phene.
A single locus governing the petal colour character was detected on the linkage group A2.
Feature
(linguistics) The elements into which linguistic units can be broken down.
Character
A complex of traits marking a person, group, breed, or type.
A study of the suspect's character and his cast iron alibi ruled him out.
Feature
(transitive) To ascribe the greatest importance to something within a certain context.
Character
(uncountable) Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; moral strength.
He has a great deal of character.
"You may not like to eat liver," said Calvin's father, "but it builds character."
Feature
(transitive) To star, to contain.
Character
(countable) A unique or extraordinary individual; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits, especially charisma.
Julius Caesar is a great historical character.
That bloke is such a character.
Feature
(intransitive) To appear, to make an appearance.
Character
(countable) A written or printed symbol, or letter.
Feature
To have features resembling.
Character
Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the particular form of letters used by a person or people.
An inscription in the Runic character
Feature
The make, form, or outward appearance of a person; the whole turn or style of the body; esp., good appearance.
What needeth it his feature to descrive?
Cheated of feature by dissembling nature.
Character
A secret cipher; a way of writing in code.
Feature
The make, cast, or appearance of the human face, and especially of any single part of the face; a lineament. (pl.) The face, the countenance.
It is for homely features to keep home.
Character
One of the basic elements making up a text file or string: a code representing a printing character or a control character.
Feature
The cast or structure of anything, or of any part of a thing, as of a landscape, a picture, a treaty, or an essay; any marked peculiarity or characteristic; as, one of the features of the landscape.
And to her service bind each living creatureThrough secret understanding of their feature.
Character
A person or individual, especially one who is unknown.
We saw a shady character slinking out of the office with some papers.
That old guy is a real character.
Feature
A form; a shape.
So scented the grim feature, and upturnedHis nostril wide into the murky air.
Character
A complex number representing an element of a finite Abelian group.
Feature
A prominent aspect of something;
The map showed roads and other features
Generosity is one of his best characteristics
Character
(countable) Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty.
In the miserable character of a slave
In his character as a magistrate
Feature
The characteristic parts of a person's face: eyes and nose and mouth and chin;
An expression of pleasure crossed his features
His lineaments were very regular
Character
The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing; reputation.
A man's character for truth and veracity
Her actions give her a bad character.
Feature
The principal (full-length) film in a program at a movie theater;
The feature tonight is `Casablanca'
Character
A reference given to a servant, attesting to their behaviour, competence, etc.
Feature
A special or prominent article in a newspaper or magazine;
They ran a feature on retirement planning
Character
Personal appearance.
Feature
An article of merchandise that is displayed or advertised more than other articles
Character
(obsolete) To write (using characters); to describe.
Feature
Have as a feature;
This restaurant features the most famous chefs in France
Character
A distinctive mark; a letter, figure, or symbol.
It were much to be wished that there were throughout the world but one sort of character for each letter to express it to the eye.
Feature
Wear or display in an ostentatious or proud manner;
She was sporting a new hat
Character
Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the peculiar form of letters used by a particular person or people; as, an inscription in the Runic character.
You know the character to be your brother's?
Character
The peculiar quality, or the sum of qualities, by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others; the stamp impressed by nature, education, or habit; that which a person or thing really is; nature; disposition.
The character or that dominion.
Know well each Ancient's proper character;His fable, subject, scope in every page;Religion, Country, genius of his Age.
A man of . . . thoroughly subservient character.
Character
Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; as, he has a great deal of character.
Character
Moral quality; the principles and motives that control the life; as, a man of character; his character saves him from suspicion.
Character
Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty; as, in the miserable character of a slave; in his character as a magistrate; her character as a daughter.
Character
The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing; reputation; as, a man's character for truth and veracity; to give one a bad character.
This subterraneous passage is much mended since Seneca gave so bad a character of it.
Character
A written statement as to behavior, competency, etc., given to a servant.
Character
A unique or extraordinary individuality; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits; a person who illustrates certain phases of character; as, Randolph was a character; Cæsar is a great historical character.
Character
One of the persons of a drama or novel.
Character
To engrave; to inscribe.
These trees shall be my books.And in their barks my thoughts I 'll character.
Character
To distinguish by particular marks or traits; to describe; to characterize.
Character
An imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story);
She is the main character in the novel
Character
A characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something;
Each town has a quality all its own
The radical character of our demands
Character
The inherent complex of attributes that determine a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions;
Education has for its object the formation of character
Character
An actor's portrayal of someone in a play;
She played the part of Desdemona
Character
A person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities);
A real character
A strange character
A friendly eccentric
The capable type
A mental case
Character
Good repute;
He is a man of character
Character
A formal recommendation by a former employer to a potential future employer describing the person's qualifications and dependability;
Requests for character references are all to often answered evasively
Character
A written symbol that is used to represent speech;
The Greek alphabet has 24 characters
Character
Engrave or inscribe characters on
Common Curiosities
What does feature mean in technology?
In technology, a feature refers to a specific functionality or capability of a device or software that enhances its usefulness or performance.
What is meant by character in a person?
Character in a person refers to the set of ethical, moral, and emotional qualities that define their personality and influence their actions and interactions.
Can features affect the character of a product?
Yes, features can contribute to a product’s overall character or image, particularly in how it is perceived and used by consumers.
Is character more important than features?
The importance varies depending on context; character is typically more important in personal and social contexts, while features are crucial in products and functional assessments.
How do authors develop character in literature?
Authors develop character by showing growth and evolution through experiences, dialogues, and interactions within the narrative.
How do character and feature differ in importance?
Character is crucial for long-term judgments about people or narratives, influencing trust and depth in relationships, while features are important for practical and immediate evaluations of objects or services.
How is character different from reputation?
Character is about who someone truly is, based on their qualities and actions, while reputation is how others perceive someone, which can be influenced by external factors.
Can a person's physical features reflect their character?
Physical features do not inherently reflect character, as character is related to deeper qualities and values.
What are common features of a smartphone?
Common features include camera quality, screen resolution, battery life, storage capacity, and processor speed.
What is the role of character in leadership?
In leadership, character is foundational, as it influences trustworthiness, decision-making, and the ability to inspire and guide others effectively.
How can one improve their character?
Improving character can involve self-reflection, seeking feedback, embracing ethical practices, and developing empathy and resilience.
Why are features highlighted in product advertisements?
Features are highlighted to demonstrate the product’s capabilities, differentiate it from competitors, and align with consumers' needs and preferences.
What is a character flaw?
A character flaw is a trait that is seen as negative and can hinder a person's relationships or personal growth.
How do you identify the features of a product?
Features can be identified by examining the product’s specifications, functionalities, and the benefits it offers.
Is character innate or developed?
Character is both innate and developed; some traits may be inherent, but many aspects of character are shaped by experiences and choices.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
