Check out ord and chr.

    =item ord EXPR

    =item ord

    Returns the numeric ascii value of the first character of
    EXPR.  If EXPR is omitted, uses C<$_>.  For the reverse,
    see L</chr>.



    =item chr NUMBER

    =item chr

    Returns the character represented by that NUMBER in the 
    character set. For example, C<chr(65)> is C<"A"> in ASCII.
    For the reverse, use L</ord>.

    If NUMBER is omitted, uses C<$_>.
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