What is Emoticons

Emoticons are typographical symbols that replace facial expressions in computer-mediated communication. For example, the laughing face “:D,” sad face “:(,” smiling face “:)” are three standard emoticons.

A blend of “emotion and icon” that refers to facial expressions represented by keyboard characters.

Combinations of text that are believed to portray communicator emotions, for example,:-) and:-(.

Graphic-like icons that are created using characters available on the standard keyboard. Examples include the smiley face, which is created by using the colon and the right parenthesis. Emoticons are used to convey emotion, or states of being which are often communicated through facial expressions such as smiling, frowning, looking puzzled, and so forth.

A symbolic representation of an emotion, used in written communications to help convey meaning.:-) is an example of an emoticon.