A national flag is a flag which symbolises a country and which can be flown by citizens of that country. Usually it is also the flag used to represent the country abroad.
Public buildings such as schools and courthouses often fly the national flag from either the highest point of the building or a flag staff in front. Prominent private buildings often follow this custom as well.
Ships display the national flag from the highest point on the ship; a smaller vessel or boat may display the national flag from a staff hanging over the stern, particularly if in official service.
Diplomatic vehicles often fly small flags from antennas affixed prominently to the front corners of the vehicle. This is to show the diplomatic immunity or special legal status of the diplomatic vehicle.
Aircraft operated by a particular nation typically have an image of the national flag (or a stylized variation) painted prominently on the hull. (The space shuttle is an excellent example of this.)
Military units typically do not display the national flag but instead display unit pennants or other specialized flags unique to that armed service; pennants are oftenly based on respective national flags however. Military bases typically fly the national flag
There is a great deal of ceremony involved in the proper display of national flags. For example, certain national flags, such as the flag of the United States, should never be flown upside down except as a call for help and a recognizable distress signal.
There are many regulations concerning the display of national flags. The following come from South Africa, but are typical of the regulations in many other states.
When the National Flag is displayed together with
- any other flags, it must be hoisted first and lowered last;
- the national flags of other countries, all the flags should be of approximately equal size and must be flown at an equal height, and the National Flag of the Republic of South Africa must be on the right side of the building or platform (that is to say, on the left side from the observer's point of view);
- any other flags, not being other national flags, on separate flagstaffs, the National Flag must be in the middle or on the left side from the observer's point of view or at the highest point of the group;
- any other flags on the same flagstaff, it must be at the top;
- any other flag on crossed staffs, the National Flag must be to the spectators' left and its staff must be in front of the staff of the other flag; and
- another flag or flags in procession, the National Flag must be on the marching right. If there is a row of flags, the provisions of (c) above apply.
For a list of national flags, see the List of national flags.
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