Character recognition, also known as optical character recognition (OCR), refers to the process of converting handwritten or printed text into digital format. The term can be interchangeable with other words depending on the context and specific application. For instance, machine-readable refers to characters that can be easily interpreted by machines or electronic devices. Text recognition or word recognition can refer to the process of identifying and extracting words from a document. Document scanning is a broader term that encompasses character recognition along with the scanning of images and other non-textual content. Regardless of the terminology used, character recognition plays a vital role in digitizing and automating many aspects of modern life and industry.