Editing National flag (section)

==Usage==
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 flag]]s ([[International Federation of Vexillological Associations|FIAV]] symbol [[File:FIAV 100000.svg|23px]]), [[state flag]]s ([[File:FIAV 010000.svg|23px]]), and [[war flag|war or military flags]] ([[File:FIAV 001000.svg|23px]]). '''Civil flags''' may be flown by anyone regardless of whether they are linked to government, whereas '''state flags''' are those used officially by government agencies. '''War flags''' (also called '''military flags''') are used by military organizations 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 ([[File:FIAV 111000.svg|23px]]). 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. [[Flag of the Republic of China|Taiwan]], [[Flag of Japan|Japan]], and [[Flag of the People's Republic of China|China]] are notable examples of this. [[Swallowtail (flag)|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.
<gallery class="center">
Flag of Austria.svg|[[Civil flag]] of [[Austria]]
Flag of Austria (state).svg|[[State flag]] of [[Austria]]
Flag of the Republic of China.svg|[[Flag of Taiwan]]
</gallery>

===At sea===
The flag that indicates nationality on a ship is called an [[Ensign (flag)|ensign]]. As with the national flags, there are three varieties: the '''[[civil ensign]]''' ([[File:FIAV 000100.svg|23px]]), flown by private vessels; '''[[state ensign]]s''' (also called '''government ensigns'''; [[File:FIAV 000010.svg|23px]]), flown by government ships; and '''[[war ensign]]s''' (also called '''naval ensigns'''; [[File:FIAV 000001.svg|23px]]), flown by naval vessels. The ensign is flown from an [[Ensign (flag)|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 [[Mast (sailing)|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 [[Canadian Naval Ensign|Royal Canadian Navy's Ensign]]), the national ensign is identical to the national flag, while in others, such as the [[United Kingdom]], [[India]], [[Italy]] [[Japan]] and [[Thailand]], 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. Italian naval ensign bears the arms of the [[Italian Navy]]: a [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|shield]], surmounted by a [[Mural crown|turreted]] and [[Naval crown|rostrum crown]], which brings together in four parts the arms of four ancient [[maritime republics]] ([[Republic of Venice]], [[Republic of Genoa]], [[Republic of Pisa]] and [[Duchy of Amalfi|Republic of Amalfi]]).
<gallery class="center">
File:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|The [[White Ensign|naval ensign of the United Kingdom]]
File:Naval Ensign of India.svg|The [[Indian Naval Ensign]], also referred to as the Indian White Ensign, or ''Nishaan'', is the [[naval ensign]] of the [[Indian Navy]]
File:Naval Ensign of Italy.svg|The [[naval ensign]] of [[Italy]]
File:Naval Ensign of Japan.svg|Naval ensign of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] and the [[Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force]]
File:Naval Ensign of Thailand.svg|Royal Navy Thai Flag [[Naval ensign]] Emblem White  Elephant
</gallery>
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===Protocol===
{{main|Flag protocol}}
[[File:Gijeong-ri Flag.jpg|thumb|The world's sixth tallest [[flagpole]] flying a {{Convert|270|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} [[Flag of North Korea]]. It is {{Convert|160|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} in height, over [[Kijŏng-dong]] ("Peace village") near [[Panmunjom]], the border of [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]].]]
There is a great deal of protocol involved in the proper display of national flags. A general rule is that the national flag should be flown in the position of honour, and not in an inferior position to any other flag (although some countries make an exception for royal standards). The following rules are typical of the conventions when flags are flown on land:
*When a national flag is displayed together with any other flags, it must be hoisted first and lowered last.
*When a national flag is displayed together with the national flags of other countries, all the flags should be of approximately equal size{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} and must be flown at an equal height, although the national flag of the host country should be flown in the position of honour (in the centre of an odd number of flagpoles or at the far right — left from an observer's point of view — of an even number of flagpoles).
*The flags of [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Iraq]], [[Iran]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Lebanon]] are wrapped (from left to right - from right to left from the side an observer's point of view), as some of these flags carry [[Arabic]] texts.
*When a national flag is displayed together with flags other than national flags, it should be flown on a separate flagpole, either higher or in the position of honour.
*When a national flag is displayed together with any other flags on the same flagpole, it must be at the top, though separate flagpoles are preferable.
*When a national flag is displayed together with any other flag on crossed flagpoles, the national flag must be on the observer's left and its flagpole must be in front of the flagpole of the other flag.
*When a national flag is displayed together with another flag or flags in procession, the national flag must be on the marching right. If there is a row of flags, it should be in the position of honour.
*When a national flag, with some exceptions, is flown upside down it indicates distress. This however is merely tradition. It is not a recognised distress signal according to the [[International regulations for preventing collisions at sea]]. Further, a nation's flag is commonly flown inverted as a sign of protest or contempt against the country concerned. As of now, only the [[flag of the Philippines]] recognises the distress symbolism of the reverse flag.

===Hanging a flag vertically===
Most flags are hung vertically by rotating the flag pole. However, some countries have specific protocols for this purpose or even have special flags for vertical hanging; usually rotating some elements of the flag — such as the coat of arms — so that they are seen in an upright position.<ref>{{citation | title = Hanging Flags Vertically | date = 2005-12-31 | first = Phil | last = Nelson | url = https://www.fotw.info/flags/xf-vert.html | publisher = Flags of the World | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101217224828/https://www.fotw.info/flags/xf-vert.html | archive-date = 2010-12-17 | access-date = 2011-02-20 }}.</ref>

Examples of countries that have special protocol for vertical hanging are: [[Flag of Canada|Canada]], [[Flag of the Czech Republic|Czech Republic]], [[Flag of Greece|Greece]], [[Flag of Israel|Israel]], the [[Flag of the Philippines|Philippines]], [[Flag of South Africa|South Africa]], and the [[Flag of the United States|United States]] (reverse always showing); and the [[Flag of the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] (obverse always showing).

Examples of countries that have special designs for vertical hanging are: [[Flag of Austria|Austria]], [[Flag of Cambodia|Cambodia]] (coat of arms must be rotated 90° and blue strips are narrowed), [[Flag of Dominica|Dominica]] (coat of arms must be rotated and reverse always showing), [[Flag of Germany|Germany]], [[Flag of Hungary|Hungary]], [[Flag of Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]] (crown must be rotated 90°), [[Flag of Mexico|Mexico]], [[Flag of Montenegro|Montenegro]] (coat of arms must be rotated 90° to normal position), [[Flag of Nepal|Nepal]], [[Flag of Slovakia|Slovakia]] (coat of arms must be rotated 90° to normal position), and [[Flag of Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia]] ([[shahada]] must be rotated 90°). A vertical banner is used instead of the horizontal flag for [[Flag of Malaysia|Malaysia]].

<gallery class="center">
File:Flag of Cambodia vertical.svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Cambodia]].
File:Vertical Flag of Dominica.svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Dominica]].
File:Flag_of Germany (Hanging).svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Germany]].
File:Flag of Thailand (vertical).png|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Thailand]].
File:Flag_of Hungary vertical.svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Hungary]].
File:Flag of Italy (vertical display).svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Italy]].
File:Flag of Liechtenstein vertical.svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Liechtenstein]].
File:Flag of Montenegro (vertical).svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Montenegro]].
File:Vertical flag of Nepal.svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Nepal]].
File:Flag of Slovakia vertical.svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Slovakia]].
File:Flag of Saudi Arabia (Hanging).svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Saudi Arabia]].
File:Flag of Malaysia (vertical).svg|Vertical banner variation of the [[flag of Malaysia]].
</gallery>
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