A player's character is the single most important thing in Dungeons & Dragons. Their character is how they interact with the game world, go on adventures, take part in combat, and roleplay with everyone else around the table. D&D's rules have always included ways for players to customize and distinguish their characters, but the extent has varied from version to version.
Source:https://www.cbr.com/dd-edition-ranked-by-character-building/