What it does
Evil Icons provides a web icon set with an SVG sprite, CSS styling and helpers for JavaScript, Rails, Sinatra and Middleman.
Evil Icons fits websites that render small SVG symbols from template names. A JavaScript page includes the stylesheet and script, then marks elements with an icon name and optional size. Ruby applications can use the provided helpers in Rails, Sinatra or Middleman.
For a Rails layout, render the shared sprite once and call the icon helper wherever a symbol is needed. Size presets and custom classes keep repeated controls consistent, while CSS fill changes their color. The same approach is useful for an existing server-rendered site that wants to keep icon selection close to its templates.
The Ruby integrations require their asset-pipeline setup as well as the helper call; copying a template name alone is not enough. Ready-made SVG assets and the npm package offer other integration paths. Evil Icons is MIT licensed, permitting commercial use and modification with the notice retained.
Strengths
- Ruby template helpers and JavaScript helpers share one SVG sprite.
- Individual symbols accept size and custom-class options.
Watch out for
- Ruby helper integrations also require sprite and asset-pipeline setup.
Best for
- Server-rendered sites using SVG sprites
- Existing Ruby projects using Evil Icons helpers
Sources
- Evil Icons README (Oct 27, 2026)
- Evil Icons MIT License (Oct 27, 2026)