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

Flag elements

thumb|Parts of a flag

Basic patterns

Flags often inherit traits seen in traditional European heraldry designs, and as a result, patterns often share names.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|-

! Name !! Illustration !! Example !! Citation

|-

! Vertical bisection

| 240x120px

| 240x120pxFlag of Algeria

|

|-

! Horizontal bisection

| 240x120px

| 240x120pxFlag of Indonesia

|

|-

! Diagonal bisection

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Papua New Guinea

|

|-

! Diagonal bisection

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Bhutan

|

|-

! Pale

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Nigeria

|

|-

! Vertical tricolor

| 240x120px

| 240x120pxFlag of France

|

|-

! Fess

| 240x120px

| border|240x120pxFlag of Austria

|

|-

! Horizontal tricolor

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of the Netherlands

|

|-

! Bend

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Trinidad and Tobago

|

|-

! Bend sinister

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of the Republic of the Congo

|

|-

! Side

| 240x120px

| border|240x120pxFlag of Pakistan

|-

! Side sinister

| 240x120px

| border|240x120pxFlag of the first three Saudi states, 1744-1913

|

|-

! Chief

| 240x120px

| border|240x120pxFlag of New Brunswick

|

|-

! Base

| 240x120px

| border|240x120pxFlag of Rwanda

|

|-

! Quadrisection

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Panama

|

|-

! Diagonal quadrisection

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Jamaica

|

|-

! Greek (Hellenic) cross

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Switzerland

|

|-

! Symmetric cross

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of England

|

|-

! Nordic cross

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Sweden

|

|-

! Saltire

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Scotland

|

|-

! Canton

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Taiwan

|

|-

! Border

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Montenegro

|

|-

! Bordure

| 240x120px

| 240x120pxFlag of Maldives

|

|-

! Pile

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of the Czech Republic

|

|-

! Pile throughout

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Eritrea

|

|-

! Chevron

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of NAVA

|

|-

! Pall

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of South Africa

|

|-

! Arrowhead

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Guyana

|

|-

! Gusset

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Jubaland

|

|-

! Stripes

| 240x120px

| 240x120px|borderFlag of Catalonia

|

|-

|}

Techniques in flag display

Illustrations

Flag illustrations generally depict flags flying from the observer's point of view from left to right, the view known as the obverse (or "front"); the other side is the reverse (or "back"). There are some exceptions, notably some Islamic flags inscribed in Arabic, which is written from right to left; for these the obverse is defined as the side with the hoist to the observer's right.

See also

  • Vexillology
  • Vexillological symbol
  • Civil flag
  • Ensign (flag)
  • Flag families
  • Maritime flag
  • National flag
  • National coat of arms
  • National emblem
  • National seal
  • National symbol
  • State flag
  • Galleries and lists:
  • Flags of Europe
  • Gallery of sovereign state flags
  • Gallery of flags of dependent territories
  • Lists of flags
  • List of flags by design
  • List of national flags by design
  • List of national flags of sovereign states
  • List of Japanese flags
  • List of United Kingdom flags
  • List of Antarctic flags
  • List of flags by color combination
  • List of sovereign states by date of current flag adoption
  • Timeline of national flags
  • Gallery pages of flags of country subdivisions

Notes

References