Player character
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A player character or playable character ("PC" for short) is a fictional character in a game, that is controlled by the player.
Role-playing game
In a RPG a PC is usually represented by a collection of statistics, numbers stating the degree of certain attributes of the character, such as strength or intelligence. In tabletop RPGs, the player uses these in imagining the way in which that character will act and, within the imagined world of the game, describes what they do. In a computer-based RPG, they inform the game program what actions their character will take and the computer simulates their consequences.
When creating a character, a player usually either imagines a character and then selects these characteristics deliberately, or chooses the characteristics randomly then describes a corresponding character. Most games use the former method, but a number of Dungeons & Dragons-derived games allow or require random character generation.
Most role-playing games have a system for the selection of the numbers mentioned above with intricate rules and many choices. Attributes represented can range from fundamental (endurance, social skill) to the trivial (favorite color, height) depending on the nature of the game and the degree of detail the players want to go into. These attributes describe the way in which that character will typically act and what the character is capable of doing.
In tabletop and live-action role-playing games, there is little advantage to be had by selecting consistently high attributes, as a gamemaster can make enemies and obstacles that the character must face more dangerous, or make the statistics irrelevant in other ways. More commonly, they will simply not allow the player to have high statistics. Also, role-playing can be about social interaction and imagination. Purely played on the basis of the numerical mechanics, it is a narrower activity, though many still enjoy this aspect. Many such players tire of this method of gameplay and either move on to more three-dimensional and realized characters or abandon the hobby entirely.
There is some skill to the selection of plausible numbers for attributes that will be "advantageous" to the player. Players, gamemasters and settings vary widely in how important they regard plausibility and "advantage".
A character's attributes usually don't correspond to those of the player. Their personalities more often do, but not always. A common cause of friction amongst players can be the confusion of the character and the player.
A player character provides the player a chance to do things that, in real life, could not be done or would have unwanted consequences. That is one of the attractions of role-playing. However, excessive actions by characters attempted by some players can spoil a game for the other players. The expectations of the other players need to be respected or the social cohesion of the playing group can break down.
A collection of PCs is often referred to as a "party".
Contrast with a non-player character (NPC), a character controlled by the gamemaster or, in the case of games that do not use gamemasters, by the game itself. In computer role-playing games, player characters and playable characters are also known as avatars, and almost always serve as the game's protagonist.
Computer and video games
In a computer or video game a PC is one that can be used as the player's avatar within the game world. Most games only have one such character available by default (for example, Samus Aran in Metroid). Many games have multiple characters available for play. Some characters, called secret characters, cannot be played without finishing some specific, often arcane labor in the game. Some games automatically change the playable character during the course of the game. Other games give the character control over more than one character at the same time, or allow one character to directly or indirectly control one or more other characters.
In some role-playing games, players may construct playable characters from a range of aspects, such as race and class. Playable characters can also refer to the multiple characters the player can control (such as the members of their party), especially in single player computer RPGs that allow the player to control more than one character.
Some times, usually in first-person puzzle games, the Player Character is a simple blank, never seen or heard, since the player sees through his eyes. This blank helps the player play his role without having to think about any backstory or personality traits. A typical example is the Stranger (Myst).
In contrast, a non-playable character is one that cannot be used by the player. Most non-playable characters are designed as AI opponents, bosses, or non-player characters that might not be properly balanced for a player.