Devices and electronics
The symbols on devices, chargers, ports and controls, and what each one means.
Symbols on devices, chargers, ports and controls, and what each one means. The power and media symbols on equipment are largely international standards: IEC 60417, the International Electrotechnical Commission’s graphical symbols for use on equipment, also published as ISO 7000. Others, like the USB trident and the Bluetooth rune, belong to the industry groups behind the technology, and phone and computer makers such as Apple, Google and Microsoft each draw their own status icons for Wi-Fi, charging and airplane mode.
The power, connection, media and status symbols on devices and remote controls, and what each one means.
Sources
- Proposal to Include IEC Power Symbols, Unicode document L2/14-009 (Terence Eden, Joe Loughry and Bruce Nordman), 23 January 2014, Unicode Consortium document register, section 1
- USB-IF frequently asked questions, USB Implementers Forum
- Bluetooth: origin of the name, Bluetooth Special Interest Group
- Learn the meaning of iPhone status icons, iPhone User Guide, Apple, Connectivity
- Connect to Wi-Fi networks on your Pixel phone, Google, Pixel Phone Help
- Segoe Fluent Icons font, Windows apps design documentation, Microsoft Learn, e701
Last reviewed September 25, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research