Avatar

A small picture that stands for a person: a photo, their initials or a generic user icon.

Also called: avatar, profile picture, profile photo, userpic, user icon, profile icon, initials, letters in a circle, photo in a circle, round photo, pfp, user picture

What it is for

It lets you recognize a profile or the author of something at a glance. When no photo has been uploaded, the system usually makes a placeholder: initials on a colored background, or a standard profile icon.

Where you see it

• Social networks and messengers — shows who sent a message
• Navigation — the profile icon in the header that opens your account
• Collaboration — shows who else is in the document right now

What it is called in code

• <img class="avatar">
• Avatar

See also

• Badge — A small pill or circle with a short word or number: “New”, “−20%”, “3”.
• Card — A rectangular block that gathers everything about one thing: a photo, a name, a price, a button.
• Three-dot menu — An icon, usually three dots in a row or a column, that opens a hidden list of secondary actions.