These characters are coded by being shy, hyper fixated on certain topics, disregarding social cues, not maintaining eye contact (or too much, in Wednesday's case), deadpanning, not understanding emotions, and other qualities associated with the autism spectrum. These characters do not have to be human.

In 2026, autistic coding refers to characters in media who exhibit traits commonly associated with the autism spectrum—such as hyper-fixation on specific interests, difficulty with social cues, literal interpretations of language, or sensory sensitivities—without being explicitly diagnosed as autistic within the story. This allows writers to create relatable "outsider" or "intellectual" archetypes while avoiding the potential pitfalls of a formal medical label. Popular examples cited by fans and critics include Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory, Wednesday Addams, and Data from Star Trek. While coding can provide valuable representation for the neurodivergent community, it is sometimes criticized for relying on "robotic" or "genius" stereotypes. In 2026, there is a growing push in the entertainment industry to move beyond coding toward explicit, well-researched representation to ensure that autistic characters are portrayed with depth and authenticity rather than just as a collection of quirks.