Icons are a core part of many user interfaces, and are used to visually communicate the primary intent of an object or action. They are useful in UX design as they can reduce screen real estate and add visual appeal to an interface.
Given that the purpose of icons is to guide the user where to go, their design should not hide the functionality they represent by making them hard to recognize. Good icon design can be distilled into 7 essential principles; these are alignment, brevity, clarity, consistency, ease of use, personality, and readability.
