external character; user-defined character; non-JIS character
Computing term for a character not included in a standard character set, especially the JIS set; often created by users or vendors.
This font contains many external characters.
non-standard kanji; kanji outside the jōyō and jinmeiyō lists
Refers to kanji not included in the official jōyō (common use) or jinmeiyō (name) lists; often used in names or older texts.
foreign letters; foreign writing
Broadly refers to letters or characters from non-Japanese writing systems, especially Western alphabets.
Create a user-defined character and embed it in the document.
His name uses a kanji outside the standard lists.
Non-standard kanji are not included in the jōyō kanji list.
If the address contains foreign letters, registration may not be possible.
Care is needed when using foreign characters in Japanese text.
Variant forms of kanji; 外字 may include variant forms not in standard sets, but the terms are distinct.
Compound of 外 (outside) and 字 (character), literally 'outside character'. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but the term naturally describes characters outside a given standard set.