streamlit icons

Daniel Parker

3 min read

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21-02-2025

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Streamlit is a fantastic tool for building and sharing data science applications quickly. But a visually appealing app isn't just about the data; it's also about the user experience. Adding icons significantly enhances the look and feel, making your apps more intuitive and engaging. This comprehensive guide explores everything you need to know about incorporating icons into your Streamlit projects.

Why Use Icons in Your Streamlit Apps?

Icons are powerful visual cues that instantly communicate meaning. They improve the user experience in several ways:

• Improved Clarity: Icons clarify the function of buttons, menus, and other interactive elements. A well-chosen icon can instantly tell a user what an action will do, without needing to read lengthy text.
• Enhanced Aesthetics: Icons add a professional and polished look to your app. They transform a simple interface into something more visually appealing and engaging.
• Increased Engagement: Visually rich applications tend to be more engaging. Icons contribute to this by creating a more dynamic and interactive experience.
• Accessibility: Icons, when used correctly with appropriate alt text, can improve accessibility for users with visual impairments.

Methods for Adding Icons to Your Streamlit Apps

There are several ways to incorporate icons into your Streamlit applications. Each method offers different benefits and considerations:

1. Using Streamlit's Built-in Emoji Support

Streamlit supports standard Unicode emojis directly within your code. This is the simplest method for adding basic icons.

import streamlit as st

st.write("This is a simple example with an emoji: 👍")

This approach is ideal for quick additions, but the selection is limited to standard emojis.

2. Leveraging Font Awesome Icons

Font Awesome is a widely popular icon library with a vast collection of icons. Integrating it into your Streamlit app allows you to use a far broader range of icons than emojis alone offer.

Using st.markdown with Font Awesome's HTML

This is a common and effective method. You'll embed Font Awesome's CSS and then use HTML tags within your Streamlit markdown.

import streamlit as st

st.markdown("""
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.0.0/css/all.min.css" integrity="sha512-9usAa10IRO0HhonpyAIVpjrylPvoDwiPUiKdWk5t3PyolY1cOd4DSE0Ga+ri4AuTroPR5aQvXU9xC6qOPnzFeg==" crossorigin="anonymous" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" />
<i class="fas fa-user"></i>  This is a Font Awesome icon.
""", unsafe_allow_html=True)

Remember to replace "fas fa-user" with the appropriate class name for your desired icon. Check the Font Awesome website for the complete list. The unsafe_allow_html=True argument is crucial; without it, the HTML will not render correctly.

Using a dedicated Python package

Several packages simplify the Font Awesome integration process. They abstract away the HTML and CSS, making it more Pythonic.

Example (using a hypothetical package, adapt to your chosen one):

import streamlit as st
from awesome_streamlit import fontawesome # Replace with actual package

st.write(fontawesome.icon("user")) 

Remember to install the required package (pip install awesome-streamlit). Always check the specific package documentation for usage instructions. Different packages might have different naming conventions and functions.

3. Utilizing Other Icon Libraries

Numerous other icon libraries exist, such as Material Icons, Bootstrap Icons, and many more. The integration process is similar to Font Awesome. You typically need to include the library's CSS and then use specific HTML tags within st.markdown.

4. Using Images as Icons

If you can't find the perfect icon in any library, you can use custom images. Ensure your images are appropriately sized and formatted (e.g., PNG or SVG for clarity and scaling).

import streamlit as st

st.image("my_icon.png", width=30)

Choosing the Right Icon Library

The best icon library for your Streamlit app depends on your project's needs:

• Font Awesome: A highly versatile and extensive library, excellent for most projects.
• Material Icons: A clean and modern library with a consistent design language.
• Bootstrap Icons: Integrates well with Bootstrap-based projects.

Consider factors like the style of your app, the availability of the icons you need, and the ease of integration when making your choice.

Best Practices for Using Icons in Streamlit

• Consistency: Maintain a consistent style and size for your icons throughout the app.
• Clarity: Choose icons that clearly represent their function. Avoid ambiguous or confusing icons.
• Alt Text: Always provide descriptive alt text for accessibility. Screen readers use this text to convey icon meaning to visually impaired users.
• Spacing: Provide sufficient spacing around icons to avoid clutter.

By following these best practices and choosing the right methods, you can seamlessly integrate icons into your Streamlit applications, making them visually appealing and user-friendly. Remember to explore the documentation of the chosen icon library to understand all the available options and possibilities. Experiment with different libraries and approaches to find what works best for your unique project!