What are pictograms?

A pictogram is like a picture that tells you what something is or means, just by looking at it.

Imagine you're in a park, and you see a sign with a drawing of a person running. That’s a pictogram! It shows you that this path is for people who are running, maybe on a trail or during a race. You don’t need to read words, just look at the picture, and you get the message.

Think of a pictogram like a picture in a dictionary, but instead of explaining a word, it explains an idea. If you see a sign with a drawing of a tree, that means “forest” or “woods.” A drawing of a car could mean “parking,” and if you see a clock face with an arrow pointing to 9, that might mean “9 o’clock.”

You see pictograms on signs, buttons, apps, even on your phone! When you tap a button that looks like a house, it probably takes you to the "Home" screen. A picture of a bell might be for “Notifications.” These pictures help people understand what they should do or where they are going, all without needing to read complicated words.

Pictograms make everything easier and more fun! A pictogram is like a picture that tells you what something is or means, just by looking at it.

Imagine you're in a park, and you see a sign with a drawing of a person running. That’s a pictogram! It shows you that this path is for people who are running, maybe on a trail or during a race. You don’t need to read words, just look at the picture, and you get the message.