ASCII Character b

The character "b" is the second letter of the Latin and English alphabets in its lowercase form.

The shape of the lowercase "b" typically consists of a vertical line, known as a 'stem', with a round or oval part, called a 'bowl', attached to the right side of the stem at the upper half. The bowl is generally oriented towards the right, giving the letter a closed appearance on the right side. The design of the "b" can vary somewhat depending on the typeface or font being used.

In terms of pronunciation, the lowercase "b" represents the same consonant sound as its uppercase counterpart "B". In English, it represents a voiced bilabial stop, which means it's produced by obstructing airflow in the vocal tract by bringing both lips together, causing a build up and then release of air.

Historically, the lowercase "b", along with other lowercase letters, came into existence after the uppercase letters. The development of lowercase letters is linked to the evolution of writing style from Roman stone carving to the quicker and more efficient writing methods used by scribes, where speed and space were valued. This cursive or minuscule writing eventually led to the development of the lowercase "b" as we know it today.