ISO/IEC 24738:2006 defines a consistent set of icon symbols and related attributes that are presented on a computer screen and with which users interact to decide whether or not to take the associated link. These symbols represent attributes of the link and/or the destination of the link.
Link attribute icon symbols enable users to decide on the suitability of following associated hyperlinks. Information provided by these icon symbols may also be made available via text.
ISO/IEC 24738:2006 provides guidance on the graphics to be used by implementers of ISO 14915-2, Software ergonomics for multimedia user interfaces -- Multimedia navigation and control.
The icon symbol graphics included in ISO/IEC 24738:2006 have been selected on the basis of their ability to convey the desired information to a wide audience of users.
ISO/IEC 24738:2006 applies to icons that are shown on a computer screen in conjunction with a link also shown on that screen. It describes user interaction with and the appearance of link attribute icons on the screen. Other forms of icons are covered in ISO/IEC 11581, Information technology -- User system interfaces and symbols -- Icon symbols and functions.