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When should icons include a text label?
To help overcome the ambiguity that almost all icons face, a text label must be present alongside an icon to clarify its meaning.
Why use icons instead of text?
Icons can save space over text, but at the price of recognition. For small icons, such as 16x16 pixel, it's very difficult for users to even recognize what they are supposed to be a picture of, let alone what the picture is supposed to stand for. One user I know thought the “disk” icon for save was a picture of a TV.
How do I use UX icons?
Always use labels for icons and show them to the right or below the icon. A good test for an effective icon is when users can tell what it represents without a label. Don't use icons with conflicting meaning. Icons that could represent multiple things should be avoided.
