Flag Classifications

Many countries use a single flag design for any circumstance where the country is represented by a flag. Other countries may use a number of distinct designs for different circumstances. Common terminology for some of the various types of flags:

National Flag
Generally, a flag used for all purposes. May be specified only for use on land, abroad or at sea.

Civil Flag
For use by private citizens or businesses on land.

State Flag
For use on government buildings or facilities on land.

War Flag
For use by the military on land.

Civil Ensign
A flag for use on privately owned vessels at sea.

State Ensign
A flag for use on non military government vessels at sea.

War Ensign
A flag for use by military vessels at sea.

Diplomatic Flag
Flag used for diplomatic purposes.

Unofficial Flag
Flag commonly used, but not officially recognized.

Alternate Flag
An alternate to the official version of a flag.

In many cases the difference between a civil flag and state flag is the inclusion of the national coat of arms (or a variation of it) on the state flag. The flags flown outside the United Nations building and other international gatherings are usually the state flags, however the civil flags are sometimes used.

Flags Covered in Cliptures Flags of the World Products

Cliptures Flags of the World includes national, civil, state, alternate, and diplomatic flags, where applicable, for all the independent nations of the world plus many dependent territories. The flags of some international organizations and a few unofficial flags have been included also. Civil ensigns, state ensigns, war flags and war ensigns are not included. The flags included are done so without any political or social commentary regarding the entities from which these designs have originated.

Where there is more than one flag available for a country, the following codes are added to the end of the file names to indicate their designation. If there is no designation code added to the file name for a particular country, it is their national flag.

-c
Civil or Civic Flag

-ca
Civil Alternate Flag

-cs
Civil and State Flag

-cl
Civil Flag on Land

-cna
Civil Flag, National Flag Abroad

-csa
Civil Flag and State Alternate Flag

-d
Diplomatic Flag

-g
Government and General Usage Flag

-i
Island Flag

-l
Local Flag

-na
National Alternate Flag

-ns
National Flag, State Flag

-nac
National Flag Abroad, Civil Flag

-nas
National Flag Abroad, State Flag

-nl
National Flag On Land

-ncasa
National, Civil & State Alternate Flag

-p
Provincial Flag

-sa
State Alternate Flag

-s
State Flag

-sna
State Flag, National Flag Abroad

-sca
State Flag, Civil Alternate Flag

-sd
State Flag, Diplomatic Flag

-u
Unofficial Flag

Top