Many symbols and icons that we encounter in our daily lives carry meanings that often go unnoticed. We interact with buttons and interfaces instinctively, rarely stopping to consider their significance. For example, younger generations may find some icons, like the traditional phone shape or the save icon’s backstory, rather obscure.
Have you ever wondered about the power button symbol? It features a broken circle with a vertical line at the top. Let’s delve into its meaning and origins.
Understanding the Power Symbol
The power symbol remains a fixture on most contemporary computers and laptops today, with roots tracing back to the 1950s. During this period, gadgets typically relied on physical switches that clearly indicated “on” or “off” states.
However, using explicit words like “on” and “off” presented challenges, especially due to varying languages. To resolve this, there was a need for a universally recognized symbol, leading to the adoption of an idea from binary code. In binary language, 1 signifies “on” or “true,” while 0 represents “off” or “false.”
Apple
This creative combination of the 1 and 0 gave rise to the power symbol—a comprehensive design featuring a large circle (0) interrupted by a small vertical line (1). Its intended purpose was to indicate that this button could toggle a device’s power state, regardless of the user’s language.
Interesting tidbit: In earlier times, this symbol was also associated with “standby mode” or “energy-saving mode.” Nowadays, we often represent that state with a crescent moon symbol, referring to it as “sleep mode.” Nevertheless, the classic power icon continues to maintain its original function.
