IOF description column: appearance

The column qualifying the feature's state.

Also known as: Appearance column, Feature detail column

Maps & navigationSport & gamesStandard profile

Meanings

The IOF control description column giving further detail of the feature's appearance, such as ruined, overgrown or indistinct.

Officially standardisedVerified fact
Gives further detail of the feature's appearance or condition.
Contexts: Maps
Officially standardisedVerified fact
Modifies the feature column rather than standing alone, so its symbols are meaningless without the box to their left.
Contexts: Maps

The fifth square box of a description row, holding a small qualifying mark drawn lighter than the figure in the box beside it.

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is defined by a current official standard, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

IOF Control Descriptions
International Orienteering Federation · retrieved 2026-08-25
The IOF specification defining the pictorial control description symbols, the columns of the description sheet and the meaning of each symbol within its column. Cited for a symbol's identity and defined meaning. Records describe the notation and are not competition rules.

Last reviewed 2026-08-25

Meanings

The IOF control description column giving further detail of the feature's appearance, such as ruined, overgrown or indistinct.

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Gives further detail of the feature's appearance or condition.

Contexts: Maps

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Modifies the feature column rather than standing alone, so its symbols are meaningless without the box to their left.

Contexts: Maps

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is defined by a current official standard, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Sources

IOF Control Descriptions
International Orienteering Federation · retrieved 2026-08-25
The IOF specification defining the pictorial control description symbols, the columns of the description sheet and the meaning of each symbol within its column. Cited for a symbol's identity and defined meaning. Records describe the notation and are not competition rules.

Last reviewed 2026-08-25