Vexillological symbols are used by vexillologists to indicate certain characteristics of flags, such as where they are used, who uses them, and what they look like. The symbols were created by vexillologist Whitney Smith and then adopted by the International Federation of Vexillological Associations (FIAV) in the early 1970s.[1] Vexillologist Željko Heimer added the symbols for Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag normal and Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flaghistorical in the early 1990s.[2]

Status and design symbols

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Vexillological symbols describe information on a flag's recognition status and design.

List of symbols
Symbol Meaning
  Normal or de jure version of flag, or obverse side
  Design was proposed in the past, but never officially adopted
  Design is a reconstruction, based on past observation
  Reverse side of flag
  An acceptable variant of the standard flag
  One of several alternative versions of the flag that can be displayed
  De facto flag, widely accepted and used
  Flag has different designs on its obverse side and its reverse side
  Obverse side meant to be hoisted with pole to the observer's right
  Design officially authorized to represent nation by government of that nation (not necessary to use when the de jure symbol is used)
  Design used in the past, but now abandoned
  Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side
  Reverse side is congruent to the obverse side
  Information on reverse side is not available
  Flag can be hung vertically by hoisting on a normal pole, then turning the pole 90°
  Flag can be hung vertically by rotating the design first
  Vertical hoist method of flag is unknown
  Design has no element which can be rotated
  Flags can only be hoisted vertically
  Flag is not authorized to represent the group or country

Usage symbols

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The usage symbols are based on a grid of two rows representing use on land and use on water, and three columns representing private use, public use, and military use. Each circle in the grid indicates the flag has one or more of the following six basic usages:

Private Public Military
Land Civil flag

Flown by private citizens on land

State flag

Flown by the government on land

War flag

Flown by the military on land

Water Civil ensign

Flown by private vessels

State ensign

Flown by government vessels

Naval ensign

Flown by military vessels

A single design may be associated with no usages or multiple usages. Heimer suggested an additional row for air ensigns, but it has not been adopted by FIAV. The air ensign row refers to flags displayed on aircraft, including when on the ground, and air installations. The air ensign row is placed above the remaining two rows.[2]

List of symbols
Symbol Meaning Symbol Meaning
  Civil flag   National flag
  State flag   National ensign
  War flag   State and war flag, war ensign
  Civil ensign   State flag, civil and war ensign
  State ensign   Civil and state flags and ensigns
  War ensign   State and war flags and ensigns
  Civil and state flag   National flag, civil ensign
  State and war flag   National flag, state ensign
  Civil and state ensign   National flag, civil and state ensign
  State and war ensign   National flag, state and war ensign
  Civil flag and ensign   State and war flag, national ensign
  State flag and ensign   Civil and state flag, national ensign
  War flag and ensign   National flag and ensign
  Civil and war ensign   Civil flag, war ensign
  Civil flag, state ensign   Civil flag, state and war ensign
  Civil flag, civil and war ensign   Civil flag, civil and state ensign
  Civil flag, national ensign   Civil and war flag
  Civil and war flag, war ensign   Civil and war flag, state ensign
  Civil and war flag, state and war ensign   Civil and war flag, civil ensign
  Civil and war flags and ensigns   Civil and war flag, civil and state ensign
  Civil and war flag, national ensign   Civil and state flag, war ensign
  Civil and state flag, state ensign   Civil and state flag, state and war ensign
  Civil and state flag, civil ensign   Civil and state flag, civil and war ensign
  State flag, war ensign   State flag, state and war ensign
  State flag, civil ensign   State flag, state and civil ensign
  State flag, national ensign   State flag and ensign, war flag
  State and war flag, civil ensign   State and war flag, civil and war ensign
  State and war flag, civil and state ensign   War flag, state ensign
  War flag, state and war ensign   War flag, civil ensign
  War flag, civil and war ensign   War flag, civil and state ensign
  War flag, national ensign   National flag, war ensign
  National flag, civil and war ensign   Other

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "FIAV Flag Information Symbols". CRW Flags. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  2. ^ a b "The FAME: Symbols and Abbreviations". zeljko-heimer-fame.from.hr. Retrieved 2022-10-21.