Previously I wrote about clarity being the most important characteristic of a great interface. Let’s talk about icons now. They’re an essential part of many user interfaces. The thing is: more often than not, they break clarity. Pictograms have been in use since the early days of mankind. They are often seen as the first expressions of a written language. Some non-literate cultures still use them
![The best icon is a text label — Thomas Byttebier](https://cdn-ak-scissors.b.st-hatena.com/image/square/ffcaad3b85b502aa4981877f2cb44733ba618856/height=288;version=1;width=512/https%3A%2F%2Fthomasbyttebier.be%2Fassets%2Fimages%2F2015-03-23%2Fwashing-icons.png)