what does it mean when you search on facebook and there is a magnify glass next to people names

(Originally posted, May, 2011) Nosotros posted this article a few years ago as a guide to the icons found on mobile apps. In general, "icons" mean emoji for grown-upwardly developers. If you notice a missing icon or wonder what one means, transport united states a link of where you see it and nosotros'll help all our users learn what the new or disruptive icon ways: [email protected])

As more and more than people are using mobile devices to run their lives and businesses, the people who develop applications for these devices face a claiming. Smaller screens hateful less infinite to utilise words that instruct the user where to go and how to use the mobile website or app. For that reason, a whole new visual language of small-scale symbols called "icons" is evolving. These icons are supposed to convey to the user what volition happen when they tap onto or click the image.

The only problem is, sometimes Developer A and Developer B use the same image for various things, or different images for the same thing. For instance, what does and "i" in a circle hateful? How is it dissimilar from a "?" in a circle? Or, for that matter, an "!"? (We included that last i, as it's an on-going debate we take amongst ourselves at SmallBusiness.com.)

Here are some common icons and what volition likely happen when you lot click or tap on them. The post-obit icons are from the folks at Font Awesome who take open-sourced them as part of evolution framework called Bootstrap that was created at Twitter and became an open-source projection in 2011.

Cog, Widget or Gear

We started with this one considering it demonstrates some of the defoliation. First off, it's a symbol that goes by unlike names. In the existent-world, the symbol can hateful "widget," a give-and-take that has a meaning among developers that has nothing to practice with that existent-world significant. On an app or website, it typically means "settings." Click it and you can adjust something.

Wrench

This, besides, is what nosotros mean by a confusing icon, as it can, like the cog-gear-widget, as well mean "settings." For example, Google Apps used to have a wrench icon for settings but now uses a "cog-gear-widget."

Envelope

An envelope should mean e-mail, right? It may. Or it may have a broader meaning, like "click on this to contact us." Look for one on SmallBusiness.com and click information technology and the latter volition happen.

Right Swirving Pointer

This ways share. Click on information technology and y'all'll probable see a list of ways to post the content yous're seeing onto social media sites or email information technology to friends or co-workers.

Some other Sharing Icon

Possibly we didn't mention that the net has no governing board that controls how many symbols can hateful the same thing, as this ane means "share" as well., but wait, there'southward more.

Yet, Another Sharing Symbol

We feel certain at that place are some nuance differences in the 2 previous sharing icons and this one, merely on SmallBusiness.com, we've narrowed it down to the middle one. This 1 is especially disruptive because it tin also mean "impress." One day, this will all exist worked out by the UN.

Exclamation Point

The exclamation point in a circle means, "take note and lookout man out." If it's in a triangle, it ways "Take Notation and WATCH OUT." Or, if it's part of the logo of SmallBusiness.com, it means, "here'southward your reply!"

Home

This should exist obvious. Information technology ways, click here to play a game of Monopoly.

Ellipsis

Sometimes (say, if yous use Google+), you may even encounter a stack of ellipses. We're guessing this icon is a visual pun that ways "the stuff we couldn't…fit here." Clicking or tapping on the icon will reveal options related to what yous are currently viewing. (Coincidentally, the adjacent icon means and does about the same.)

Parallel Confined (hamburger or a stack of hamburgers or hot dogs)

When used every bit a navigational icon, either of these 2 "lists" mean in that location are lots of things the app or website couldn't fit on a tiny screen. Typically, if yous click or tap on them, some form of the navigational bar volition slide in from the side or top.

Pencil

This ways "edit" pretty much anywhere you see it.

Triangle in a Circumvolve

This is a play push icon. That, or a cattle ranch brand.

Circumvolve Arrow

This ways refresh. Refresh means stay on the same page, but try to brand it work, this time.

A Dot with Two Curved Lines

This is an RSS icon. It'due south a magical tool that far too few people use. If you want others to be more informed than you, ignore it.

Magnifying glass

This means "search." Even if you don't see a search box, click on it. In fact, y'all can examination what nosotros mean by looking for one at the elevation of this screen (depending on the device yous are using). Tap or click on information technology. We promise a search box will appear.

Beer Mug

This icon means "turn off your reckoner and go accept a beer."

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Source: https://smallbusiness.com/tech/what-mobile-icons-mean/