Emoticon
An expression made from text characters, such as :-) or :-(, to suggest a face or convey a feeling.
Context
Emoticons can use punctuation, letters, and other characters. Some are read sideways, while forms such as ^_^ face the reader directly.
Emoji use pictorial symbols. Many apps also turn typed emoticons into graphical faces automatically.
Examples
- A writer adds :-) to a short message to suggest a friendly tone.