  Given a prime number $p$, every irreducible character $\chi$ of a finite
group $G$ determines a unique conjugacy class of $p$-subgroups of $G$ which we
will call the anchors of $\chi$. This invariant has been considered by L.
Barker in the context of finite $p$-solvable groups. Besides proving some basic
properties of these anchors, we investigate the relation to other $p$-groups
which can be attached to irreducible characters, such as defect groups,
vertices in the sense of J. A. Green and vertices in the sense of G. Navarro.
