Vexillological symbols are used by
vexillologists to indicate certain characteristics of
flag
A flag is a piece of textile, fabric (most often rectangular) with distinctive colours and design. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design employed, and fla ...
s, 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
The ; IFoVA (; FIAV) is an international federation of 53 regional, national, and multinational associations and institutions across the globe that study vexillology, which FIAV defines in its constitution as "the creation and development of a ...
(FIAV) in the early 1970s. Vexillologist Ċ½eljko Heimer added the symbols for normal and historical in the early 1990s.
Status and design symbols
Vexillological symbols describe information on a flag's recognition status and design.
Usage symbols
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:
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.
{{gallery, title=Examples, whitebg=y, height=100
, flag of Peru.svg, {{FIAV, 100100 The civil flag and ensign of Peru is used by Peruvian citizens on land and sea
, Flag of Peru (state).svg, {{FIAV, 010010 The state flag and ensign is used by the Peruvian government on land and sea
, Flag of Peru (war).svg, {{FIAV, 001000 The war flag is used by the
Peruvian Army
, Naval Jack of Peru.svg, {{FIAV, 000001 The naval ensign is used by the
Peruvian Navy
The Peruvian Navy (, abbreviated MGP) is the branch of the Peruvian Military of Peru, Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to from the Peruvian littoral. Additional missions include ...
See also
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Glossary of vexillology
Flag terminology is the nomenclature, or system of terms, used in vexillology, the study of flags, to describe precisely the parts, patterns, and other attributes of flags and their display.
Flag types
...
References
symbol
A symbol is a mark, Sign (semiotics), sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, physical object, object, or wikt:relationship, relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by cr ...
Symbols introduced in the 1970s