Icon

A small graphical symbol used in graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to represent an application, file, function, or object. Icons rely on visual recognition rather than text reading, which can be both an advantage and a barrier for users with visual impairments depending on factors like icon size, contrast, complexity, and spacing. Research has shown that icon set size, inter-icon spacing, and the availability of supplemental auditory feedback significantly affect how efficiently users with visual impairments can locate and interact with icons, particularly on small-screen devices where display space is constrained.