A player character (PC) in World of Warcraft (WoW) is an in-game Alliance or Horde character controlled by you or another person (also known as a player).

The interface of creating a player character.
When you first start playing the game, you create a character for yourself, and you play the game as that character.
Also referred to as just a player or a character.
Some other names used:
NOTE: Player characters are just one type of in-game character; see Non-Player characters (NPCs).
Fighting another player character is called Player versus Player (PvP).
In many role-playing games, a strict division is made between the player (the human being that plays the game) and the fictitious character that the player controls in the game (i.e., the player character or short: character). However, in World of Warcraft and its associated official internet sites, this distinction is not strictly made. Tooltips and other texts refer to the fictitous player character as "the player", thus blurring the line between player and player character. Whether Blizzard does this intentionally (e.g. to increase identification with the game world) or not is unknown.
Player character identities
- Note: Characters below do not fall within the traditional player character category.
Prior to World of Warcraft, players were unable to create characters of their own choosing within games of the Warcraft franchise. Instead, players would assume the role of a commander, or take control of various units and hero characters as part of gameplay. The identities of these player-controlled characters are as follows:
Warcraft: Orcs & Humans
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
Maiev Shadowsong
Naisha
Tyrande Whisperwind
Malfurion Stormrage
Magroth the Defender
Illidan Stormrage
Kael'thas Sunstrider
Lady Vashj
Unknown Pandaren Brewmaster
Akama
Arthas Menethil
Kel'Thuzad
Sylvanas Windrunner
Mug'thol
Blackthorn
Snarlmane
Murloc Puddle Lord
Zul'Rogg
Anub'arak
Sapphiron
Varimathras
Othmar Garithos
Rexxar
Misha
Rokhan
Chen Stormstout
Drek'Thar
Nazgrel
Samuro
Jaina Proudmoore
Cairne Bloodhoof
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria
World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor
World of Warcraft: Legion