Overview
ISO/IEC 11581-6:1999 is part of the ISO/IEC 11581 family that defines on‑screen icon symbols and functions for user system interfaces. This Part 6 focuses exclusively on action icons - icons that invoke actions on pre‑selected or default objects (for example Cut, Paste, Print). The standard describes the intended function, conceptual metaphors, appearance and user interaction expectations for action icons used in graphical user interfaces.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and conformance
- Applies to icons shown on a screen that users manipulate and that represent system functions.
- Conformance requires action icons to meet the general icon rules in ISO/IEC 11581-1 plus the specific clauses in 11581‑6 (graphics, selection, arrangement and feedback).
- Definitions
- Defines an action icon as an icon that acts on a selected source/target and provides single‑step access to functions also available via menus.
- Concept and design principles
- Uses a button metaphor (3‑D button cell) to reinforce pressable behaviour.
- Icons are bounded by a rectangular cell; visual strength and grouping must be consistent.
- Interaction and behavior requirements
- Selection via pointer and activation device (e.g., mouse click).
- Grouping: related action icons must be visually grouped (rows, columns or boxes).
- Visual feedback: clear discrimination between available/unavailable states and visible feedback when an action is invoked or when status changes.
- Recommendations
- Use consistent metaphors, shadows/highlights to simulate buttons, concise typefaces where text is used, and colour where appropriate.
- Specified icon sets
- Provides primary functions and graphic instances for common action icons, including: Help, Find, Create New, Open, Save, Print Preview, Print, Cut, Copy, Paste, Undo, Redo, Increase/Decrease Indent and others.
Applications and who should use it
- Target users
- UI/UX designers, software developers, product managers, HMI designers, accessibility specialists and technical writers creating or auditing GUIs.
- Practical use
- Standardizing iconography across applications and platforms to improve learnability and consistency.
- Implementing consistent visual feedback and grouping to support discoverability and usability.
- Informing icon libraries, style guides, and accessibility conformance testing in desktop and embedded applications.
- Benefits
- Reduces user confusion by aligning icon graphics with widely recognized metaphors and behaviours.
- Eases cross‑platform design decisions and supports internationalization (mirroring and rotations for different text directions).
Related standards
Keywords: ISO/IEC 11581-6, action icons, icon design guidelines, user interface icons, UI icons standard, iconography, graphical user interface, UX best practices.
Open preview (PDF)Information technology — User system interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols and functions — Part 6: Action icons
