signboard

Signboard is a panel or board that conveys information, directions, or branding to viewers. They are used in commerce, transportation, and public spaces, and range from small shop signs to large exterior advertisements. Historically, signboards identified trades and wares outside shops and taverns, with information painted directly on boards or on hanging panels.

Signboards come in numerous types, including storefront or architectural signs mounted on a building facade, freestanding signs on posts, directional and wayfinding panels in streets and facilities, and billboards or digital displays intended for broad audiences. In addition to static signs, illuminated and digital signboards use LEDs or electronic displays to show changing text and graphics.

Materials and construction vary by use and climate. Common substrates include metal (often aluminum), wood, and durable plastics or composites. Finishes may be painted, enamelled, or vinyl-applied graphics. Design emphasizes legibility and recognition: simple typography, high contrast, concise wording, and internationally understood pictograms where possible. Signage may carry branding elements such as logos and colors and, for safety or regulatory reasons, follow established color conventions.

Regulatory frameworks govern road and public-safety signs. Road signs in many countries follow national standards or international conventions (for example, the Vienna Convention, MUTCD in the United States, TSRGD in the United Kingdom), and ISO 7010 provides standardized safety pictograms. Local planning and accessibility codes also affect commercial and architectural signs.