How we verify

What this is

Symbol Index is a register of the symbols printed on appliances, care labels, products and packaging, with what each one means. The same symbol can mean different things on different brands or models, so every meaning is recorded with its scope: the model, the brand, the product type or the standard it applies to.

Where meanings come from

We prefer primary sources: the manufacturer’s own instruction manual or website, official product information, and published standards such as IEC 60417, ISO 7000, EN 50419 or the UN GHS. Where no primary source is available to us yet, as for some car dashboard lights, we use an independent reference such as a specialist or dealer guide.

Every symbol page names its source and its type (manufacturer manual, official website, standard or independent reference), so you can see what each meaning rests on. We replace independent references with primary sources as we get them.

We write each explanation in our own words. We do not copy manual text, and we do not publish or host the manuals themselves.

How we verify

Before a meaning is published it goes through two separate steps. First, automated checks: the symbol must have its own drawing, a category, a source, an explanation of reasonable length, and no references that only make sense inside a manual.

Second, an independent review: a reviewer who did not write the entry re-reads the source and checks the meaning (functions, numbers, conditions), the scope, and that the drawing matches the original. This reviewer can be an editor or a separate AI review step working only from the source. Anything that fails is corrected and checked again, or held back.

Each symbol page shows when its meanings were last checked. When a source changes, the meanings that rely on it go back to review.

Our own drawings

Every symbol is redrawn by us on a 24-unit grid so it matches the original’s shape and arrangement. Manufacturer artwork and standard graphics are used only as a reference and are never published.

Use our drawings

Our drawings are free to use, including commercially: in manuals, care labels, apps, classrooms, presentations and blog posts. Download any symbol as SVG or PNG from its page, or print a whole category from its chart page (Print / save as PDF).

You don’t have to credit us, but it helps people find the full meanings. A simple line is enough: “Symbol drawings: Symbol Index (symbolindex.com)”, ideally linking to the symbol’s page.

This covers our drawings only. Manufacturer names and logos belong to their owners, and the meaning of a symbol on your product is set by its manufacturer’s instructions.

Limits

Symbols are a quick guide, not a replacement for your appliance’s instructions. Where a meaning is model-specific, it is shown only for that model. For safety warnings, always follow the instructions supplied with your product.