What is the difference between a sprite, a glyph, an icon, and a symbol? They are all images. They all represent objects, places, and ideas. What makes them different from one another?
A sprite is something you interface with. For instance, a sprite may represent a character or an item in a video game.
A glyph is a typographical character that represents something else. For example, the @ sign is a glyph that commonly represents the phrase at.
An icon is a direct representation of something else. For example, an icon that links to the contents of a hard drive would be a picture of a hard drive.
A symbol is a direct or indirect representation of something else. For example, a symbol of train tracks may represent literal train tracks, whereas a cross may figuratively represent a Christian church.
Icons and symbols are very similar. Since icons are not figurative, it may be easier to call something a symbol when is figurative.
When icons are displayed using typographical characters, they are often referred to as icon-glyphs.
The glyph @ came from greengrocers who wrote signs by hand to identify the selling price and means "each at" .....as in: each apple at 10 cents