A fictosexual or a fictoromantic person is someone who experiences exclusive or significant sexual and/or romantic attraction to fictional characters, rather than real-life people. Someone who feels sexual and/or romantic attraction to both fictional characters and real-life people will often identify as semificto. Often a fictosexual person does not feel romantic or sexual attraction to real-life people

An important concept about fictosexual and fictoromantic people is that the experience is emotional and rich. Their feelings for the character go deeper than a surface-level experience of attraction. Their attraction to the character feels real and strong, and goes beyond that of a common crush or romantic appeal. Their attraction is no different in intensity or from those of other orientations. Ficto-oriented individuals typically feel a two-way connection with their fictional other, where they receive love from their fictional other that to them is real and whole. To a fictosexual or fictoromantic, their feelings are as strong and as valid as the feelings of those of other orientations towards real-life people.