Editing Symbol (section)

==Symbols in cartography==
{{Main |Map symbol}}

[[File:Cartographic Symbols.jpg|thumb|The three categories of cartographic symbol shapes]]
Symbols are used in cartography to communicate geographical information (generally as point, line, or area features).<ref>{{Cite book |title=Principles of map design |last=Tyner |first=Judith A. |year=2010|publisher=Guilford  |isbn=978-1-606-23544-7 |location=New York}}</ref> As with other symbols, visual variables such as size, shape, orientation, texture, and pattern provide meaning to the symbol.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Cartography: thematic map design |last1=Dent |first1=Borden D. |last2=Torguson |first2=Jeffrey |last3=Hodler |first3=T. W. |isbn=978-0-072-94382-5 |edition=6th |location=New York |publisher=McGraw-Hill |date=2008-08-21 }}</ref> According to [[semiotics]], map symbols are "read" by map users when they make a connection between the graphic mark on the map (the ''sign''), a general concept (the ''interpretant''), and a particular feature of the real world (the ''referent''). Map symbols can thus be categorized by how they suggest this connection:
* '''Pictorial symbols''' (also "image", "iconic", or "replicative") appears as the real-world feature, although it is often in a generalized manner; e.g. a tree icon to represents a forest or green denoting vegetation.
* '''Functional symbols''' (also "representational") directly represent the activity that takes place at the represented feature; e.g. a picture of a skier to represent a ski resort or a tent to represent a campground.
* '''Conceptual symbols''' directly represent a concept related to the represented feature; e.g. a dollar sign to represent an ATM, or a [[Star of David]] to represent a Jewish synagogue.
* '''Conventional symbols''' (also "associative") do not have any intuitive relationship but are so commonly used that map readers eventually learn to recognize them; e.g. a red line to represent a highway or a cross to represent a hospital.
* '''Abstract/geometric symbols''' (also "ad hoc") are arbitrary shapes chosen by the cartographer to represent a certain feature.