ASCII Character f

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

The shape of the lowercase "f" generally consists of a vertical line, known as a 'stem', that extends upwards and curves slightly at the top to the right, and often includes a horizontal line, or 'crossbar', across the middle. In some typefaces, an additional small line or 'tail' may extend to the left from the bottom of the stem. In many italic typefaces, the "f" may have a more pronounced curve at the top and extend further below the baseline, the invisible line on which most letters 'sit'.

In terms of pronunciation, the lowercase "f" in the English language represents the same sound as its uppercase counterpart "F", an unvoiced labiodental fricative, which means it's produced by blocking air flow with the lower lip touching the upper teeth, creating a sort of friction.

Historically, the lowercase "f", 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 "f" as we know it today.

In mathematics and physics, the lowercase "f" is often used to represent a function.