Jatin Chawla

Different Types of Flags

A flag is a piece of colored cloth with one side tied to a pole or mast. The basic purpose of a flag is identification or signaling. Today, flags are used for messaging, advertising and decorative purposes, though there is no scientific difference between a flag and a simple cloth banner. Depending on the use of flags at a particular place, there can be different interpretations of flags.

Different interpretations of Flags are:

National Flags

Whenever the word flag is referred, the first and most popular use of a flag that comes to mind is National Flag. Not only it symbolizes your country but also gives a sense of belonging to you.

Swimming Flags

Swimming flags are a pair of red/yellow flags which are used to mark the limits of swimming area on a beach. To indicate that the beach is close, simply cross the poles of the flags. These flags are used in countries like Australia, New Zealand, UK and Philippines.

Sports Flags

- In American and Canadian football, referees use flags to indicate an error has been made in game play.

- In auto and motorcycle racing, flags are used to communicate with drivers. The most famous use of flag in this sport is a checkered flag of black and white that marks the end of the race.

Railway Flags

Flags are used in railways as well. These colored flags carry the following meaning:

- A red flag indicates stop.

- A yellow flag indicates proceed with care.

- If a green or a white or a blue flag is hoisted it indicates proceed.

- In case of emergency a flag of any color if waved vigorously indicates stop.

- A blue flag on the side of a locomotive indicates that work is in progress and hence it should not be removed.

- A blue flag on a track indicates that nothing on the track should be removed or displaced. Only the person or group who placed the flag has a right to remove it.

Since flags are not visible during night time, lanterns of same color are used as a replacement.

Navy Flags

Flags at sea can be the difference between life and death. In situations where there is no other means of communication and the ship is in a bad state, asking help in the middle of the sea becomes next to impossible. Here, you can use flag signals to send the message across the other sailing ship.

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