Visual language dictionary

Visual Studio uses a common visual language to illustrate the concepts that are the building blocks of its iconography and other imagery. When designing new icons, use this dictionary to identify the concepts that you want to convey in your own image.

General guidelines

• These visual concepts must be used consistently with their dictionary definition. Otherwise, you risk confusing your users, who expect common elements to have consistent meanings.

• Choose only the most relevant or important concepts for use in your icons, so that the imagery is crisp and easy to distinguish.

• Use only one or two concepts in each image.

• For more strategies for designing icons, see Icon design.

Jump to section:

1. Concepts A-Z
2. Products and platforms
3. Common concepts using arrows
4. Status indicators

Concepts A-Z

A

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Accessibility
Action		Action log	The Action icon can also be used as an annotation to indicate that the base action will be performed using automatic settings.
Activity		Code activity
Actor
Add		Add all driver tests Add attachment Add behavior
Address
Alert
Alpha channel
Animation		Animation error Next animation
Application Project		Application role error C++ MFC project
Area		Spline area chart Stacked area series
Arrange		Arrange shapes Auto-arrange shapes
Assign
Association		Add association Edit association
Asymmetric			The Asymmetric concept is represented by the juxtaposition of opposite imagery (for example, light/dark or left/right).
Attach		Add attachment Open attachment
Attribute Variable, parameter		Account attribute Add parameter Member variable
Audio		Audio mute Audio playback Sound file
Audio recording		Record mute Record screen and voice
Autosum

B

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Bidirectional
Binary		Launch instrumentation target binary
Bookmark		Bookmark project Clear bookmark Go to previous bookmark
Branch		Branch uploaded Remote branch
Brightness		Brightness down Brightness up
Browse		Browse next Browse previous
Bug		Create new bug
Build		Build selection Private build instance User-created build
Builder		Cube builder Dimension builder
Business		Business model template Business objects data source Online business
Button		Add button Image button Linked button

C

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Cache		Cache OK Cache refresh
Calendar		Date/time axis Global calendar
Call		Call browser Call browser settings Caller or callee view
Cancel Same as "Clear" and "Delete"		Cancel build
Capture		Capture frame Full screenshot Start capturing graphic diagnostics
CD		CD drive
Certificate		Certificate error Certificate warning
Changeset		Group changesets New changeset
Choice toggle		Check box field column Check box list
Class		Add class Class details tool window
Clear Same as "Cancel" and "Delete"		Clear all breakpoints Clear bookmark Clear collection
Close Terminate		Close all Close results Terminate process
Cloud		Cloud package Cloud service
Code		Coded UI test Convert to coded web test
Collapse		Collapse all Return to collapsed value
Collection		Clear collection Count collection
Column		Autosize column Column details Column error
Comment Feedback, annotation		Add comment Callout
Comment (code)		Uncomment
Compare		Compare data Compare folders Compare performance reports
Component		Add component Component diagram Windows Phone RT component
Connect		Add connection Connect test plan Connect to environment
Console		Console test
Contract (noun)		Contract error Contract warning	The contract (noun) icon is used to indicate an agreement between the application and the operating system.
Contract/Expand			The contract/expand icons are used in layout situations to indicate that space between two elements will be condensed.
Contrast
Control		Add control Add custom control Add inherited control
Convert		Convert branch to folder Convert partition Convert to coded web test
Copy		Copy aggregation Copy website	Duplicating and stacking the object represents the copy action.
Counter
Create		Create new bug Create new graph Create new variable
Cursor Pointer		Inspect mode button Set hotspot tool
Custom expression Prediction		Data mining prediction
Cut

D

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Dark theme		Dark theme on
Data		Compare both databases Database audit specification Database project
Data mining		Data mining column Data mining prediction Data mining structure
Delegate		Invoke delegate
Delete Same as "Cancel" and "Clear"		Cancel build Delete column Delete dataset Delete folder
Dependency
Deploy		Deployment configuration extensions Deployment configurations
Diagram Workflow		New diagram Show diagram pane
Dialog		Dialog test group Test dialog
Dictionary		Add new dictionary Add to dictionary Clear dictionary
Dimension Plan		Dimension browser view Dimension builder view Dimension translation view
Display Monitor		Display configuration Full screenshot
Document File		Documents library File download Format document
Drive		CD drive
Driver		Driver package template Driver test group explorer Network NDIS driver template
Dynamic		ASP.NET dynamic control C# dynamic data website Dynamic validator
Dynamic value		Copy dynamic value Empty dynamic value

E

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Edit		Address editor Edit query Edit relation	The Edit annotation faces left or right depending on what the base icon looks like. Choose the orientation that looks best with your overall icon design.
Effects Same as "Function," "Variable (global)"
Empty		Blank page C++ empty project F# empty website project
Enumerator		Create enumerator
Environment		Connect to environment Create library environment Library environment
Event Trigger		Add event Event log
Expand		Return expanded value
Expand/Contract			The expand/contract icons are used in layout situations to indicate that space between two elements will be condensed.
Export Same as "Open"		Export filter Export report data Export report filter

F

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Favorite Protected, Rating		Add to favorites Rating
Field		Add field Edit field
Field (code element)		Go to field New field
Filter		Auto filter Chart filter Export filter
Finance		Money editor
Flagged		Flag thread flagged Flag thread not flagged Show only flagged threads
Flow
Folder		Documents library Find in files Folder open Linked folder open
Font		Font color Font size Serif
Frame
Friend
Function Expression Same as "Effects" and "Variable (global)"		Function warning WPF page function

G

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Get Download		Get download folder Get dictionary value Get item from collection
Graph Bar chart		HPC performance session
Graphics (3D)
Grid		Asset data grid control Grid app C++ Toggle grid
Grid web layout		Grid element Grid splitter element
Grouping		Dialog group Team Virtual machines	Stacking multiple objects on top of each other represents the concept of grouping or multiplicity.

H

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Hierarchy		Hierarchy variable Call hierarchy
History
Home		LightSwitch home screen

I

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Idea
Image Assets, Resource		Image loader Image button Image list control
Important Attention, Hot path		Show hot lines Hotspot
Indexer		Add indexer
Inheritance		Add inherited control Add inherited form Inherited control	The concept of derived inheritance is represented by a dotted corner. See also "Nonsubstantive (hidden or template)" and "Virtual."
Inheritance (arrow)			The inheritance (arrow) icon represents a toolbox control for a modeling surface.
Interface		Implement interface
Item		Copy item Create list item Check in item

K

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Key Permission, ID		New key Permission Get current item ID
Key performance indicator (KPI)		Delete KPI KPI browser view KPI with error

L

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Library		C++ class library project Exports library F# Windows Forms control library
Link		Convert to hyperlink Create linked table Edit link
Lock Private, Permission		Lock X axis Branch permissions Private queue
Log		Catalog properties Action log Connect test plan
Loop		Add or insert conditional loop Conditional loop

M

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Mail Message		Message queue Message received trace Email address viewer
Manifest		Edit manifest Extension manager manifest New application manifest
Markup		Markup error Markup tag Tag or event snippet Match tag Edit tag	The markup concept is also used as an element in several compound concepts.
Markup: HTML (web)		HTML file
Markup: XAML (WPF)		WPF application WPF browser application VB WPF control library
Markup: XML		Reload XML XML file
Master page		File from new master
Measure		Measure calculated Measure expression
Media Film		My movie collection
Member Material editor, Specular for 3D		Add member Member calculated Member variable
Memory (chip)		Memory configuration Memory array Page file
Memory Memory tool window
Merge		Automerge all Merge changes with tool Merge module reference
Message Chat
Method		Extract method Invoke method Cube builder view
Mobile phone		Mobile services Mobile game components VB mobile web project
Module		Merge module project Add module Merge module exclude
Move

N

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Namespace		Remove using namespace Sort using namespace Add using namespace
Network Connection		Network driver package template Connection offline Connection unknown
Node Crosshair
Nonsubstantive (hidden or template) Same as "Virtual"		Hidden field Hidden folder Dynamic template	A dotted outline of an object indicates that it is hidden or templated.
Note

O

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Open Same as "Export"		Open attachment Open comparison result Open file dialog
Output

P

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Package		Cloud package Create package Driver package template
Parallel		Parallel for each
Partition		Partition scheme New partition Partition function
Parts		Assigned part Misassigned part
Performance
Pin		Unpin
Planning			The Planning icon is used to indicate part of a workflow on a design surface.
Policy		Visual Studio policy cache Visual Studio policy description language
Pop out		Pop in
Power		Uninterruptible power supply
Previous		Previous bookmark Find previous
Print		Print direct Print dialog Print document control
Procedure Interactive window		Python interactive window Procedure warning Stored procedure
Property Settings, Configurations		Add property Extended property—warning New property

Q

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Query		Edit query Query extender Quick query

R

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Record		Record screen Go to recorded test session
Redo
Reference		Broken reference Go to reference Merge module reference
Refresh		Refresh cloud service Cache refreshing
Relationship Branch		Define relationship Add relationship Parent-child
Remote		Remote branch Remote desktop
Remove
Rename
Reorder		Reorder parameters
Repair
Report		File dialog report Instrumentation performance report Report project wizard
Rule		New extraction rule New threshold rule New validation rule
Ruler Measure, Guide		Measure mode on Units of measure

S

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Save		Save all Save and close Save file dialog control
Schema		Create schema Database schema XML schema
Script		Export to script Generate change script
Search Find, Look up		Find in files Find results
Server (local)		Add SQL server Login server role Configure computers
Server (remote)		Add server Run server tests
Settings Services, Process		Call browser settings Test settings Prepare process failed
Share
Shortcut
Snippet		Snippet checked Tag or event snippet
Source control		Change source control
Start Run		Run concurrency profiling Server started Start graphic diagnostics
Steps Stage, Phase		Create shared steps Insert shared steps Play all steps
Structure Struct
Style sheet		New style sheet Attach style sheet
Synchronize Update		Updated JavaScript Database updated items Sync

T

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Table		Table warning Cloud storage table collection
Tablet		Tablet settings Tablet warning
Tag Tagging system
Task		Linked task Task list
Team		New project Add project Team Foundation Server
Text		Picture and text Rich text box Text—first indent on
Thread		Many threads stopped Hide all except selected threads Hide selected threads
Time Pending		Time up or down Time picker on
Timer		Time finish Time start
Toggle		Toggle all breakpoints Toggle
Toolbox		Winform toolbox control WPF toolbox control

U

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Undo Revert, Restore		Image restore Undo check out item
Up Upload		File upload parameter One level up
User Role, Profile		Add user Add web user control SQL user-defined types
User interface UI

V

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Variable (local)		New variable Local variable SQL variable
Variable (global) Same as "Effects" and "Function"		Variable properties Global variable Delete variable
View		Advanced view Data source view
View Audit		Resource view View in browser X-ray view
Virtual Same as "Nonsubstantive (hidden or template)"		Virtual environment
Visible		Cloak or hide

W

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Watch		File system watcher
Web		Publish to web Download web settings New website
Wizard		Map layer wizard MFC class wizard Map wizard
Work item		Go to work item Work item query

Y

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Yield

Z

Concept	Main icon	Other examples	Notes
Zoom		Zoom in Zoom out

Products and platforms

Concept	Main icon	Other examples
App Insights
ATL		ATL active server page component ATL control class ATL server
Blend		Blend SketchFlow application Blend Windows Phone application Blend Windows Phone pivot application
CoffeeScript
Crystal Reports		Crystal Reports
GitHub
LightSwitch		C# LightSwitch extension library
Mercury
Microsoft Foundation Class MFC		MFC ActiveX control project MFC application project C++ MFC DLL project
WCF		WCF data services WCF project F# WCF project VB
WF		WF project C# WF project VB

Common concepts using arrows

Concept	Main icon	Other examples
Association line
Branch
Camera orbit
Connector
Current context
Current location
Current row
Cursor
Delegation tool
Dependency
Direct selection
Down Download		Download web settings Download folder Sort ascending
Dynamic		ASP.NET dynamic control Dynamic validator C# dynamic data website
Expand
Export		Export filter Export report filter (data) Export report filter
(Glyph) up
(Glyph) down
(Glyph) next
(Glyph) previous
(Glyph) collapsed file picker
(Glyph) expanded file picker
Import		Import catalog part Import filter
Inheritance
Instruction pointer		Current pointer Historical pointer Call return pointer
Merge		Automerge all Merge changes with tool Merge module reference
Move to bottom
Move to top
Navigate back		Hyperlink back
Navigate forward		Hyperlink forward
Next Generate, Go to		Next error Generate table Go to source code
Open		Open attachment Open comparison result Open file dialog
Previous		Previous bookmark Find previous
Redo
Reorder		Reorder parameters
Sync		Sync contents
Undo Revert, Restore		Image restore Uncomment
Up Upload		File upload parameter One level up

Status indicators

Concept	Main icon	Other examples
Action status: paused		Server paused
Action status: playing, running		Server started Never run
Action status: stopped		Server stopped
Alert		Linked table with error tab cue
Breakpoint: advanced disabled
Breakpoint: advanced enabled
Breakpoint: bound
Breakpoint: disabled
Breakpoint: enabled		Breakpoints window Clear all breakpoints Toggle all breakpoints
Breakpoint: mapped disabled
Breakpoint: mapped enabled
Complete and OK		Task complete Process done Cloud service OK
Error		Breakpoint error Certificate error Check constraint
Help Inconclusive		Compiled MS help file MS help index file
Information		Rigid info relationship System info
Information tooltip
Invalid
No Mute, Not applicable		Microphone mute Audio mute
Remove Offline, Critical		Connection offline Folder offline Stop query
Required		Test suite requirement
Security shield alert
Security shield complete and OK
Security shield critical
TracePoint: advanced disabled
TracePoint: advanced enabled
TracePoint: bound
TracePoint: disabled		TracePoint with error TracePoint with warning
TracePoint: enabled
Warning		Missing application role Assembly not found Key not found