Editing Icon (computing) (section)

=== Standardized electrical device symbols ===

[[File:USB icon.png|thumb|A standardized icon for a USB connection]]
[[File:Power_icon_(the_Noun_Project_35084).svg|thumb|upright|The standard [[Power symbol|power icon]]]]
A series of recurring computer icons are taken from the broader field of standardized symbols used across a wide range of electrical equipment. Examples of these are the [[power symbol]] and the USB icon, which are found on a wide variety of electronic devices. The standardization of electronic icons is an important safety-feature on all types of electronics, enabling a user to more easily navigate an unfamiliar system. As a subset of electronic devices, computer systems and mobile devices use many of the same icons; they are corporated into the design of both the computer hardware and on the software. On the hardware, these icons identify the functionality of specific buttons and plugs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://saadraja.co/7-tips-for-ui-design/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206074605/http://saadraja.co/7-tips-for-ui-design/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 6, 2017|title=Saad Raja - 7 tips for UI design|website=saadraja.co|language=en-US|access-date=2017-12-05}}</ref> In the software, they provide a link into the customizable settings.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eetd.lbl.gov/Controls/publications/switch5.pdf |title=''Power Switch Labeling for Medical and Other Devices'', 10 May 2011 |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927151016/http://eetd.lbl.gov/Controls/publications/switch5.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

System warning icons also belong to the broader area of ISO standard warning signs. These warning icons, first designed to regulate automobile traffic in the early 1900s, have become standardized and widely understood by users without the necessity of further verbal explanations. In designing software operating systems, different companies have incorporated and defined these standard symbols as part of their graphical user interface. For example, the Microsoft MSDN<ref>{{cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/uxguide/vis-std-icons|title=Standard Icons - Windows applications|last=windows-sdk-content|website=docs.microsoft.com|date=9 February 2021 }}</ref> defines the standard icon use of error, warning, information and question mark icons as part of their software development guidelines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa511277.aspx|title=''MSDN Standard Icons'', 10 May 2011}}</ref>

Different organizations are actively involved in standardizing these icons, as well as providing guidelines for their creation and use. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has defined "Graphical symbols for use on equipment", published as IEC 417, a document which displays IEC standardized icons. Another organization invested in the promotion of effective icon usage is the ICT (information and communications technologies), which has published guidelines for the creation and use of icons.<ref name="ICT Pictograms, Icons and Symbols "/> Many of these icons are available on the Internet, either to purchase or as freeware to incorporate into new software.