Vexillological symbol

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 normal and historical in the early 1990s. ^[2]

Status and design symbols

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

Examples

• 
  Flag of Paraguay
  The normal and two-sided symbols indicate this is the obverse side of an authorized flag, and that the reverse side is different.
• 
  Flag of Paraguay
  The reverse, official, and two-sided symbols indicate this is the reverse side of an authorized flag, and that the obverse side is different.
• 
  Flag of France
  The normal symbol indicates this is the official flag of the nation.
• 
  Flag of France
  The normal and variant symbols indicate this flag is an acceptable variant of the national flag.
• 
  Flag of Antarctica
  The de facto symbol indicates the flag is widely accepted and used, but not codified by law.
• 
  Royal Standard of Lesotho (1966–1987)
  The historical symbol indicates that the design was used in the past but is no longer used.
• 
  Incorrect Variant of Royal Standard of Lesotho (1966–1987)
  The reconstructed symbol indicates that this flag was drawn based purely on written sources.
• 
  Flag of Eswatini
  The mirror symbol indicates that the reverse side of the flag is a mirrored version of the obverse side.
• 
  Flag of Eswatini with Black Tassels
  The alternate symbol indicates that this is one of several other acceptable alternative variants of the flag. The Eswatini flag can have lighter colors and blue tassels as well.
• 
  Flag of Benelux
  The no-flag symbol indicates that this flag cannot be officially used to represent the group or country.
• 
  Flag of Saudi Arabia
  The sinister and equal symbols indicate that the national flag's hoist is on its right side and that its reverse and obverse sides are identical. The vertical inapplicable symbol indicates that the flag cannot have its elements rotated.
• 
  Hanging Flag of Saudi Arabia
  The vertical exclusive symbol indicates that this version of the national flag can only be displayed vertically.

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:

	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. ^[3]

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

Examples

• 
  The civil flag and ensign of Serbia is used by Serbian citizens on land and sea
• 
  The state flag and ensign is used by the Serbian government on land and sea
• 
  The war flag is used by the Serbian Army
• 
  The naval ensign is used by the Serbian River Flotilla

See also

• Glossary of vexillology

References

1. "FIAV Flag Information Symbols". CRW Flags. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
2. "The FAME: Symbols and Abbreviations". zeljko-heimer-fame.from.hr. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
3. "The FAME: Symbols and Abbreviations". zeljko-heimer-fame.from.hr. Retrieved 2022-10-21.