Are racial bonuses added to the ability score?

[Eigh7]

This is a pretty straightforward question. Are racial bonuses added to the ability score or just to rolls?

Does a half orc who would have a charisma value of 14 just have 12 instead?

And do racial bonuses affect the ability modifier?

[Zanos]

Racial bonuses or penalties affect the raw score, which adjusts the modifier in turn.

[KillianHawkeye]

Note that a race's ability score adjustments are not "racial bonuses" exactly. Several races have a racial bonus to certain skills which are added to your d20 roll with that skill.

[BowStreetRunner]

Note that a race's ability score adjustments are not "racial bonuses" exactly. Several races have a racial bonus to certain skills which are added to your d20 roll with that skill.The section on Ability Adjustments on page 11 of the Player's Handbook refers to them collectively as Ability Adjustments, then goes on to give an example including both racial bonuses and racial penalties.

[Powerdork]

An elf has a Dexterity 2 points higher than a comparable human, while having a Constitution 2 points lower. When racial modifiers on rolls are considered, the saving throw bonus against enchantment is a racial modifier, while the higher Dexterity modifier and lower Constitution modifier are not. Hope that helps lay things out for you.