Glossary of vexillology


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.
NameIllustrationExample
Border/bordureFlag of Maldives
CantonFlag of the United States of America
QuadrisectionFlag of Panama
Greek cross
Flag of Switzerland
Symmetric crossFlag of Georgia
Nordic crossFlag of Iceland
PaleFlag of Canada
FessFlag of Austria
BendFlag of Tanzania
ChevronFlag of Palestine
PallFlag of South Africa
SaltireFlag of Scotland

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 ; the other side is the reverse. 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.