Problems can arise when converting character codes from one system to another. These problems result in jumbled data. To correct this, a universal character set, the Unicode system, was developed in the late 1980s, which gives the characters used in computer systems a unique character code.

There are 255 different character codes or code points in the Windows ANSI code page, while the Unicode system was designed to contain over a million code points. To ensure compatibility, the first 255 code points of the newer Unicode system correspond to those of the ANSI system for Western language characters and numbers.

For these standard characters, the codes are programmed into the computer so that when you type a letter on the keyboard, the code for that letter is entered into the application you are using.

Non-standard characters and symbols, such as the copyright symbol or accented characters used in different languages, are entered into an application by typing the ANSI code or Unicode number for the character in the desired location.