There are three distinct types of national flag for use on land, and
three for use at sea, though many countries use identical designs for
several (and sometimes all) of these types of flag.
On land
On land, there is a distinction between
civil flags (
FIAV symbol
),
state flags (
), and
war or military flags (
).
State flags are those used officially by government agencies, whereas
civil flags may be flown by anyone regardless of whether they are linked to government.
War flags (also called
military flags) are used by military organisations such as Armies, Marine Corps, or Air Forces.
In practice, many countries (such as the
United States and the
United Kingdom) have identical flags for these three purposes;
national flag is sometimes used as a vexillological term to refer to such a three-purpose flag (
). In a number of countries, however, and notably those in
Latin America,
there is a distinct difference between civil and state flags. In most
cases, the civil flag is a simplified version of the state flag, with
the difference often being the presence of a coat of arms on the state
flag that is absent from the civil flag.
Very few countries use a war flag that differs from the state flag. The
People's Republic of China, the
Republic of China (Taiwan), and
Japan are notable examples of this.
Swallow-tailed flags are used as war flags and naval ensigns in
Nordic countries and charged versions as presidential or royal standards. The
Philippines does not have a distinctive war flag in this usual sense, but the
flag of the Philippines
is legally unique in that it is flown with the red stripe on top when
the country is in a state of war, rather than the conventional blue.
At sea
The flag that indicates nationality on a ship is called an
ensign. As with the national flags, there are three varieties: the
civil ensign (
), flown by private vessels;
state ensigns (also called
government ensigns;
), flown by government ships; and
war ensigns (also called
naval ensigns;
), flown by naval vessels. The ensign is flown from an
ensign-staff at the
stern of the ship, or from a gaff when underway. Both these positions are superior to any other on the ship, even though the
masthead is higher. In the absence of a gaff the ensign may be flown from the
yardarm. (See
Maritime flags.)
National flags may also be flown by aircraft and the land vehicles of
important officials. In the case of aircraft, those flags are usually
painted on, and those are usually to be painted on in the position as if
they were blowing in the wind.
In some countries, such as the
United States and
Canada (except for the
Royal Canadian Navy's Ensign), the national ensign is identical to the national flag, while in others, such as the
United Kingdom and
Japan,
there are specific ensigns for maritime use. Most countries do not have
a separate state ensign, although the United Kingdom is a rare
exception, in having a
red ensign for civil use, a
white ensign as its naval ensign, and a
blue ensign for government non-military vessels.
), state flags (
), and war or military flags (
). State flags are those used officially by government agencies, whereas civil flags may be flown by anyone regardless of whether they are linked to government. War flags (also called military flags) are used by military organisations such as Armies, Marine Corps, or Air Forces.
). In a number of countries, however, and notably those in Latin America,
there is a distinct difference between civil and state flags. In most
cases, the civil flag is a simplified version of the state flag, with
the difference often being the presence of a coat of arms on the state
flag that is absent from the civil flag.
), flown by private vessels; state ensigns (also called government ensigns; 
), flown by government ships; and war ensigns (also called naval ensigns; 
), flown by naval vessels. The ensign is flown from an ensign-staff at the stern of the ship, or from a gaff when underway. Both these positions are superior to any other on the ship, even though the masthead is higher. In the absence of a gaff the ensign may be flown from the yardarm. (See Maritime flags.)
National flags may also be flown by aircraft and the land vehicles of
important officials. In the case of aircraft, those flags are usually
painted on, and those are usually to be painted on in the position as if
they were blowing in the wind.
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