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What symbol(s) best represent the action of "connecting"? I need an icon that represents a "connection" - specifically, a connection between people.

Let's say there is a button to "connect" with another user on some website, what symbol would graphically represent the action of connecting?

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A plug is a logical symbol (with unfortunate potential innuendo) – Ben Brocka♦ Dec 24 '11 at 19:05
plug is more often used for plug-ins, no? – Naoise Golden Dec 25 '11 at 19:02

closed as not constructive by Benny Skogberg, Charles Wesley, JohnGB, JonW♦ Mar 20 at 17:02

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4 Answers

up vote 2 down vote accepted

Generally, connected instances are represented with a link (as in links connected in a chain):

example linked layers in Photoshop

But if it is going to represent a connection between persons, maybe two holding hands: icon holding hands

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up vote -1 down vote

I think the best and most-used icon nowadays is:

enter image description here

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My immediate thought was "connecting to server", are you suggesting this also represents connections between people? I'm not looking for a network connection but a social or professional connection, a relationship of sorts. – Jake Petroules Dec 23 '11 at 5:16
my mistake. |o| – UX-Geek Dec 23 '11 at 5:17
up vote 2 down vote

I've seen this done with two little people icons and a double sided arrow between them, indicating a two-way connection. I can't find an example, otherwise I'd post it here!

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up vote 0 down vote

What I understand from you are the parameters 1. website 2. connecting two users. This latter action has to made visible. No idea who your target group is, here are some ideas: - hands/handshake - rings - plugs/plugged - heart/broken

Good luck! Curious what you have come up with in the end!

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