What is the collective name for letters, digits, and symbols?

The term that describes the collective name for letters, digits, and symbols is "Alphanumeric." This designation comes from the combination of "alphabetic" and "numeric," which refers specifically to the inclusion of both letters (A-Z, a-z) and numbers (0-9). Alphanumeric characters are commonly used in programming, passwords, and other digital contexts where text input is required.

Understanding this term is essential in computer science, as it helps clarify the types of characters that can be used in various data types and structures. For example, programming languages often differentiate between alphanumeric characters and other types of symbols or whitespace. This awareness is crucial when designing user interfaces or input fields where users are expected to enter specific types of data.