Tricolor

A tricolor, or tricolour, is a flag or flag-like device composed of three distinct colors. In vexillology, a tricolor flag typically features three equal-width bands arranged in a row, most often horizontal or vertical, with each band a solid color.

Historically, the concept gained prominence in the late 18th century. The best-known example is the French Tricolore, adopted during the French Revolution and consisting of blue, white, and red. From France, tri-color designs spread widely and became a common basis for national flags, especially in Europe.

Common vertical tricolors include France, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, Romania, and Chad (nearly identical to Romania's). Horizontal tricolors include the Netherlands, Russia, Germany, and Hungary. Some flags add emblems or symbols atop the tricolor (India's saffron-white-green flag with a central wheel). Variants also exist where the same three colors appear in different orders or with different proportions. Romania and Chad, for example, use the same color trio in the same orientation, leading to occasional discussions about national identity and recognition.

In addition to national flags, tricolor patterns appear in regional, municipal, and organizational flags, as well as in non-flag contexts such as branding and textiles. The term is contrasted with bicolor, which uses two colors.