Icon
Icon
A small picture, made up of a shape or illustration, that represents a function or file at a glance.
In Simple Terms
An icon is a small image that uses an illustration to represent a smartphone app or a file on your computer at a glance. For example, a letter picture means an email function, while a globe picture means a web browser. Icons are used all over the screen so you can operate things intuitively without having to read any text.
Behind the Name
The word "icon" comes from the Greek "eikōn," meaning "image" or "likeness." It got this name because, on computer and smartphone screens, it's used as an image that symbolizes a specific app or function.
Take a Closer Look!
An icon is a small picture or symbol used on computer and smartphone screens to represent an app, file, or function.
Just by looking at the picture, you can instantly tell what an app does or what a function is for — no reading required.
The main job of icons is to keep the screen clean and organized so you can operate things intuitively.
If a screen were packed with nothing but text, just finding the function you want would be a real hassle.
That's why icons borrow the shapes of familiar everyday objects — a gear for settings, a magnifying glass for search, a trash can for deleting unwanted data, and so on.
In short, icons work a bit like emoji: they get their message across to anyone, no matter what language they speak.
That's exactly why people all over the world can use the same apps regardless of language — icons make it possible.
And icons aren't limited to smartphone screens; they're hard at work on street signs, websites, and many other places too.