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
Basic patterns
Flags often inherit traits seen in traditional European heraldry designs, and as a result, patterns often share names.
Name Illustration Example Citation Vertical bisection Flag of Algeria Horizontal bisection Flag of Indonesia Diagonal bisection Flag of Papua New Guinea Diagonal bisection Flag of Bhutan Pale Flag of Nigeria Vertical tricolor Flag of France Fess Flag of Austria Horizontal tricolor Flag of the Netherlands Bend Flag of Trinidad and Tobago Bend sinister Flag of the Republic of the Congo Side Flag of Pakistan Side sinister Flag of Vologda Oblast Chief Flag of New Brunswick Base Flag of California Quadrisection Flag of Panama Diagonal quadrisection Flag of Jamaica Greek (Hellenic) cross Flag of Switzerland Symmetric cross Flag of England Nordic cross Flag of Sweden Saltire Flag of Scotland Canton Flag of Taiwan Border Flag of Montenegro Bordure Flag of Maldives Pile Flag of the Czech Republic Pile throughout Flag of Eritrea Chevron Flag of NAVA Pall Flag of South Africa Arrowhead Flag of Guyana Gusset Flag of Jubaland Stripes Flag 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 Gallery pages of flags of country subdivisions
Notes
References
External links