Definition:Character (Number Theory)

Definition
Let $\struct {G, +}$ be a finite abelian group.

Let $\struct {\C_{\ne 0}, \times}$ be the multiplicative group of complex numbers.

A character of $G$ is a group homomorphism:


 * $\chi: G \to \C_{\ne 0}$

Also see
In algebra, character refers to the trace of a representation of $G$.

This generalizes the number theorist's definition above.