Standby symbol ambiguity īecause the exact meaning of the standby symbol on a given device may be unclear until the control is tried, it has been proposed that a separate sleep symbol, a crescent moon, instead be used to indicate a low power state. The symbol for the standby button was created by superimposing the symbols '|' and '◯' however, it is commonly interpreted as the numerals '0' and '1' (binary code) yet, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) holds these symbols as a graphical representation of a line and a circle. This standard is still used on toggle power switches. As technology became more ubiquitous, these English words were replaced with the universal symbols line '|' for 'on' and circle '◯' for 'off' (typically without serifs) to bypass language barriers. Originally, most early power controls consisted of switches that were toggled between two states demarcated by the words On and Off. The well-known on/off power symbol was the result of the logical evolution in user interface design. The internationally standardized symbols are intended to communicate their function in a language-independent manner. Such a control may be a rocker switch, a toggle switch, a push-button, a virtual switch on a display screen, or some other user interface. Power button marked with Standby symbol (IEC 60417-5009) turns the device on or off without fully disconnecting power supplyĪ power symbol is a symbol indicating that a control activates or deactivates a particular device.

Open office electrical symbols