Editing Badge (section)

{{Short description|Physical or digital insignia indicating membership, rank or accomplishment}}
{{refimprove|date=August 2024}}
{{Other uses}}
[[Image:Badge 1012.jpg|thumb|[[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department]] badge]]
A '''badge''' is a device or accessory, often containing the [[insignia]] of an [[organization]], which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and fire), a sign of legitimate employment or student status, or as a simple means of identification. They are also used in advertising, publicity, and for branding purposes.

Badges can be made from [[metal]], [[plastic]], [[leather]], [[textile]], [[natural rubber|rubber]], etc., and they are commonly attached to clothing, bags, [[footwear]], vehicles, home electrical equipment, etc. Textile badges or patches can be either woven or embroidered, and can be attached by gluing, ironing-on, sewing or applique.

Badges have become highly collectable: in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], for example, the Badge Collectors' Circle has been in existence since 1980.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.badgecollectorscircle.co.uk/history#1980-1984 | title = The history of the Badge Collectors Circle | access-date = 2011-08-02}}</ref>

In the [[military]], badges are used to denote the unit or arm to which the wearer belongs, and also qualifications received through military training, rank, etc. Similarly, youth organizations such as [[scouting]] and guiding use them to show group membership, awards and rank.
[[File:Dima-rs1.jpg|thumb|Badge of the [[Germany|German]] ''[[Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany)|Bundeskriminalamt]]'']]
[[File:Dispositif_d%27une_épingle_de_sûreté_sur_une_épinglette.JPG|thumb|Back of a badge, with [[safety pin]] attachment]]