In the design of arms a wide variety of symbols are used, depicted and arranged according to a series of conventions. Younger sons add small symbols, called marks of cadency, to their arms and crests. Arms are insignia of honour and so are protected by law. Today only the European monarchies, Ireland, Switzerland, South Africa, and Zimbabwe control the use of arms. In some countries there is non-noble or burgher heraldry, but this generally enjoys no protection.
Tinctures are hues used in heraldry, which are denoted colours, metals, and furs.
The symbols used in heraldry are called charges. The top area of the field is the chief and the bottom the base. The shield is viewed as if being borne, so the viewer's left is the right, or dexter, and the viewer's right, the sinister. The top centre is the honour point, the middle centre the fess point, and the base centre the nombril point. To describe an achievement is to blazon it.