What it does
Octicons is GitHub’s SVG icon set within Primer. The catalog includes developer concepts alongside general interface symbols, and official packages support JavaScript, React and Ruby workflows.
Repositories, issues, branches and code reviews have named symbols in Octicons. Select an icon in the catalog to see its sizing and usage details. Primer also specifies meanings for particular icons: for example, repo-locked represents a private repository and is distinct from the ordinary lock symbol.
To use the React components, install @primer/octicons-react, import an icon such as ArrowRightIcon, and render it in your component. The default size is 16 pixels and the fill follows the surrounding text color. An icon that conveys information needs an accessible label; decorative icons are hidden from screen readers by default.
Use canonical names in new code. Compatibility aliases can preserve older artwork, so an alias is not always identical to its newer counterpart at every size. Primer recommends the designated 12, 16 or 24-pixel artwork and discourages arbitrary resizing.
The MIT licence covers ordinary files, with copyright and permission notices retained on distribution. GitHub logos have separate brand guidance.
Strengths
- Includes developer-specific interface concepts.
- Provides official JavaScript, React and Ruby packages.
Watch out for
- GitHub logo use follows separate brand guidance.
- Primer’s sizing and meaning conventions limit arbitrary visual substitutions.
Best for
- Repository and code-review interfaces.
- Products already using Primer.
Sources
- Octicons: Primer (Oct 27, 2026)
- Primer Octicons (Oct 27, 2026)
- Octicons: Code (Oct 27, 2026)
- Octicons: Usage Guidelines (Oct 27, 2026)
- Octicons MIT License (Oct 27, 2026)