emoticon
Typed facial symbol
An emoticon is a small picture made from keyboard characters to express emotion in text, such as :-) for a smile or :-( for sadness.
The term blends "emotion" and "icon." Emoticons emerged in early internet communication when text lacked tone cues.
They've been largely supplanted by emoji—actual images rather than character combinations—though the terms are often confused.
Electronic character encoding standard
- text-basedConveyed through writing
- keyboardArray of input keys
- charactersPersons in a narrative
- punctuationWritten clarity symbols
symbols · colon · parenthesis · semicolon · caret · underscore · plaintext · typographic
Pleased facial expression
- frownDisapproving facial expression
- winkBrief one-eyed closure
- grinBroad, toothy smile
- smirkPleased, superior smile
tongue · surprise · sadness · anger · confusion · disappointment · crying · laughing
ASCII
Electronic character encoding standard
- text-basedConveyed through writing
- keyboardArray of input keys
- charactersPersons in a narrative
punctuation · symbols · colon · parenthesis · semicolon · caret · underscore · plaintext · typographic · monospace
smile
Pleased facial expression
smirk · tongue · surprise · sadness · anger · confusion · disappointment · crying · laughing · blushing
XD
Text-based laughing emoticon
AOL
Early internet provider
Skype · Facebook · Twitter · WhatsApp · Discord · Slack · Reddit · Twitch · WeChat · iMessage
shruggie
Emoticon showing indifference
- Coined Wordschortle, galumph, nerd, robot, quark
- portmanteausbrunch, smog, motel, spork, chortle
- visual aidspicture, pictures, photo, photos, image
- online forumsforums, forum, message board, message boards, discussion board
- Visual Comedyslapstick, pratfall, pratfalls, sight gag, sight gags
- early internetARPANET, TCP/IP, FTP, email, Usenet