Flag terminology - Definition and Overview

The design and description of flags typically uses specialized flag terminology with precise and technical meanings (a form of jargon).

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. Animals and beasts should always appear with the heads facing the flag-staff side.

Some countries use a single flag design as a national flag for all purposes. Other countries may use two or more flags for different purposes but all serving as the national flags. Vexillologists categorise such flags as:

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  Civil Flag - Flown by citizens on land.
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  State Flag - Flown on public buildings.
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  War Flag - Flown on military buildings.
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  Civil Ensign - Flown on private vessels (fishing craft, cruise ships, yachts, etc).
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  State Ensign - Flown on unarmed government vessels.
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  War Ensign - Flown on warships.

Symbols shown are international flag identification symbols.

Description of standard flag areas

• Canton — a quarter of the flag, for example, "lower left canton." The canton by itself refers to the upper left quarter of the flag, such as the field of stars in the Flag of the United States or the Union Flag in the Australian Flag.
• Fly — the half of a flag furthest away from the flagpole.
• Hoist — the half of a flag nearest to the flagpole.
• Length — the span of a flag along the side at right angles to the flagpole.
• Width — the span of a flag down the side parallel to the flagpole.
• Field — the flag's background; the colour behind the symbols.

Basic patterns in flags

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Techniques in flag display

• Hoist — the act or function of raising a flag, as on a rope.
• Half Staff — a style of flag display in which the flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the available flag pole. Usually this is done by first raising the flag to the top, then lowering it halfway. (Equally valid 'half-masting' is flying the flag at two-thirds of its normal height.) This usually denotes distress or a show of grief, such as mourning a death.
• Half Mast — same as Half Staff. The use of 'mast' suggests naval use, but typically the two terms are interchangeable.
• Distress — flying the flag upside-down.