Symbolset

Symbolset is a term used in typography, computing, and information design to describe a defined collection of symbols that share a common design language and semantic purpose. A symbolset can function as a standardized inventory for a domain, enabling consistent rendering, interpretation, and interchange across platforms and tools. In practice, symbolsets are implemented as fonts, vector libraries, or data files that map each symbol to a code point, name, or metadata.

Symbolsets appear in several forms. Icon sets used in user interfaces (for example, Font Awesome or Material Icons) provide visual symbols with coherent style and naming. Unicode represents a comprehensive symbolset for multilingual text and specialized domains. In mathematics and science, symbol inventories define glyphs for operators, relations, and notation. Language and linguistics communities likewise maintain inventories of phonetic or graphemic symbols.

Considerations for symbolsets include visual consistency, legibility at various sizes, accessibility (including screen reader labeling), localization, and licensing. Properly designed symbolsets improve interoperability between software components, enable scalable design systems, and reduce ambiguity in data exchange. They may be maintained by standards bodies, open-source communities, or corporate design teams.