ISO/IEC 18036:2003

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 18036
First edition
2003-10-15
Information technology — Icon symbols
and functions for World Wide Web
browser toolbars
Technologies de l'information — Symboles et fonctions d'icônes pour
les barres d'outils des «World Wide Web browsers»

Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2003
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©  ISO/IEC 2003
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ii © ISO/IEC 2003 — All rights reserved

Contents
Page
Foreword . iv
Introduction. v

1 Scope .1
2 Conformance.1
3 Normative references.1
4 Terms and definitions .2
5 Requirements and recommendations .2
5.1 Requirements.2
5.1.1 Graphic and function.2
5.1.2 Arrangement .2
5.1.3 Selection.2
5.1.4 Visual feedback.2
5.2 Recommendations.3
5.2.1 Function and graphic .3
5.2.2 Metaphor.3
5.2.3 Arrangement .3
5.2.4 Colour .3
5.2.5 Appearance .3
5.2.6 Text/typeface.3
6 Icon specifications .4
6.1 Back .4
6.2 Forward.4
6.3 Reload/Refresh .5

6.4 Home.5
6.5 Search.6
6.6 Print.7
6.7 Stop.7
6.8 Bookmarks/Favourites.8
6.9 Save (Page) .9
Annex A (informative) Cross-references between similar icons in ISO/IEC 18036 and ISO/IEC 11581 . 10

© ISO/IEC 2003 – All rights reserved iii

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical Commission)
form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of ISO or IEC
participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees established by the
respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC technical committees
collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information technology, ISO and IEC have
established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as an International
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights.
ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/IEC 18036 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology, Subcommittee
SC 35, User interfaces.
iv © ISO/IEC 2003 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Web browser toolbar icons enable users to invoke functions that act upon pre-selected or default objects. Functions
initiated by these icons may also be available via text commands on menus. Web browser toolbar icons provide
direct access to functions by graphically representing those text commands.
The icon functions and graphics included in ISO/IEC 18036 have been selected on the basis of their common use
across contemporary software platforms and applications.

© ISO/IEC 2003 – All rights reserved v

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD     ISO/IEC 18036:2003(E)

Information technology — Icon symbols and functions for World
Wide Web browser toolbars
1 Scope
ISO/IEC 18036 applies to icons that are shown on a computer screen, that users can manipulate and interact with,
and that represent data or computer system functions. ISO/IEC 18036 describes user interaction with and the
appearance of World Wide Web toolbar icons on the screen. Other forms of icons are covered in ISO/IEC 11581
(all parts).
This International Standard defines a consistent set of icons and related functions that are presented by World Wide
Web browser applications on a computer screen and that users interact with to control such applications. These
toolbar icons typically represent actions by association with objects in the real world and conventional controls on
hardware, and that prompt the user to recall the intended actions.
This International Standard provides a consistent set of controls for such functions as: Back, Forward, Refresh, Home,
Search, Print and Stop.
2 Conformance
A World Wide Web browser conforms to ISO/IEC 18036 if the applicable browser toolbar icons available to the user
in the application conform to subclause 5.1 of this Internatio
...