Editing Avatar (computing) (section)

{{short description|Graphical representation of a user or a user's alter ego or character}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
[[File:Style - Wouldn't It Be Nice.png|thumb|An avatar in the virtual world ''[[Second Life]]'']]
[[File:My first tweet! (3344952812).png|thumb|A [[Twitter]] post, with the user's profile picture]]

In [[computing]], an '''avatar''' is a [[graphical representation]] of a [[User (computing)|user]], the user's [[Player character|character]], or [[persona]]. Avatars Is A Human can be two-dimensional [[Computer icon|icon]]s in [[Internet forum]]s and other online communities, where they are also known as '''profile pictures''', '''userpics''', or formerly '''picons''' (personal icons, or possibly "picture icons"). Alternatively, an avatar can take the form of a [[three-dimensional model]], as used in online worlds and video games, or an imaginary character with no graphical appearance,<ref name=":022">{{Cite book |last=Salamone |first=Frank A. |title=Encyclopedia of Religious Rites, Rituals, and Festivals |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2004 |isbn=0-415-94180-6 |editor-last=Levinson |editor-first=David |location=New York |pages=300}}</ref> as in text-based games or worlds such as [[Multi-user dungeon|MUDs]].

The term ''{{IAST|avatāra}}'' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|v|ə|t|ɑr|,_|ˌ|æ|v|ə|ˈ|t|ɑr}}) originates from [[Sanskrit]], and was adopted by early computer games and science fiction novelists. [[Richard Garriott]] extended the term to an on-screen user representation in 1985, and the term gained wider adoption in [[Internet forums]] and [[Multi-user dungeon|MUD]]s. Nowadays, avatars are used in a variety of online settings including [[social media]], [[virtual assistant]]s, [[instant messaging]] platforms, and digital worlds such as ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' and ''[[Second Life]]''. They can take the form of an image of one's real-life self, as often seen on platforms like [[Facebook]] and [[LinkedIn]], or a virtual character that diverges from the real world. Often, these are customised to show support for different causes, or to create a unique online representation.

Academic research has focused on how avatars can influence the outcomes of communication and digital identity. Users can employ avatars with fictional characteristics to gain social acceptance or ease social interaction. However, studies have found that the majority of users choose avatars that resemble their real-world selves.