Emoji have become an essential part of digital communication in the 21st century. These small digital images and icons allow us to express emotions and ideas in a fun and visual way. With thousands of emoji available across different platforms, finding a comprehensive source to download them can be a challenge. This article will provide a guide on the best places to download emoji online for free.
What are emoji?
Emoji (singular: emoji; plural: emojis) are pictographs and smiley faces used in electronic messages and web pages. The word emoji comes from the Japanese language: e 絵 (e – picture) moji 文字 (moji – character).
Emoji first originated in Japan during the late 1990s for use in mobile phone text messages. The first set of 176 emoji was created by Japanese designer Shigetaka Kurita and included symbols for weather, traffic, technology, and emotions.
Emoji became popular outside of Japan when Apple added an emoji keyboard to iOS in 2011. Since then, emoji have become a cultural phenomenon and universal digital language. Major platforms like iOS, Android, Windows, Twitter and Facebook have their own emoji designs.
Emoji allow us to communicate visually and transcend language barriers. According to a 2017 study, 92% of the online population uses emoji. There are over 3,000 emoji supported on various platforms today.
Why download emoji?
Here are some common reasons why people download emoji:
- To customize and access emoji that aren’t built into your device or platform by default
- To use new or specialty emoji that friends or family can’t see otherwise
- To create designs, documents, presentations with themed emoji
- To share emoji through messaging apps, email and social media
- To use in marketing materials, advertisements, blogs and websites
Downloading emoji allows you to take your communication to the next level with fun visuals. It also allows compatibility across different devices, platforms and software.
Where to find emoji for download
Here are some of the top places to download emoji online:
Emojipedia
Emojipedia (https://emojipedia.org/) is the most comprehensive source for all things emoji. The site includes a directory of over 3,000 emoji from major platforms. Each emoji has a dedicated page with its description, variants, version history and more.
Emojipedia provides PNG downloads of individual emoji up to 512×512 pixels. The images can be downloaded with no attribution required. They also offer free sample packs of stickers, icons and images.
EmojiOne
EmojiOne (https://www.emojione.com/) offers a universal open emoji set compatible across platforms. Their emoji are open-source with a free license.
You can download EmojiOne in PNG format up to 1024×1024 pixels. JSON and vector SVGZ sources are also available. There are over 2,800 emoji in the EmojiOne set.
iOS Emoji
Apple’s emoji set for iOS can be downloaded from their developer platform. You need an Apple Developer account to access their emoji in PNG format.
The benefit of downloading iOS emoji is that you get the original versions used on iPhone and iPad devices.
Noto Emoji
Google’s open-source emoji set is called Noto Emoji (https://www.google.com/get/noto/). It is part of the Noto font family and available under the SIL Open Font License.
Noto Emoji uses a color palette that respects user preferences and themes. The PNG images come in various resolutions up to 256×256 pixels.
JoyPixels
JoyPixels (https://www.joypixels.com/) offers a diverse set of emoji covering topics like hand gestures, clothing, flags and more. Their emoji are used by leading tech companies and social networks.
You can download individual emoji as PNG, SVG and EPS files. There are both free and paid emoji packs available.
Twemoji
Twemoji is the open-source emoji set created by Twitter (https://twemoji.twitter.com/). It contains over 3,000 emoji in five different styles.
Twemoji PNG files are available in resolutions up to 128×128 pixels. The graphics are hosted on GitHub for downloading and customization.
Messenger Emoji
Facebook’s Messenger app has unique emoji designs not found on other platforms. You can download Messenger emoji at https://www.messenger.com/emoji.
The PNG files are provided at 128×128 pixels. Facebook requires attribution for use of Messenger emoji.
Tips for downloading emoji
Here are some tips to get the most out of your emoji downloads:
- Look for emoji in PNG format for best image quality and transparency
- Download emoji in the highest resolution you need for crisp graphics
- Use emoji source files like SVG when customizing or modifying emoji
- Download emoji packs for bulk access to themed graphics
- Look for emoji under open licenses if you need free commercial use
- Always follow platform attribution policies when using branded emoji
How to insert downloaded emoji
Once you’ve downloaded emoji as image files, how do you actually use them? Here are some ways to insert downloaded emoji:
Documents and presentations
In word processors like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, insert downloaded emoji just like any picture or graphic. Position the emoji images inline with your text.
In presentation tools like PowerPoint or Google Slides, simply add emoji graphics to your slides. Resize or crop them as needed.
Webpages and blogs
For websites and blogs, you can add downloaded emoji as image elements:
<img src="emoji.png" alt="emoji" />Set the EMOJI PNG as the source. Add alt text for accessibility.
Messaging apps
In messaging platforms like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, tap the Attach button when typing, then select Image or Gallery to insert your downloaded emoji.
Emails
For email, insert downloaded emoji into the email body the same as attaching pictures. Position the emoji image inline with your text.
Legal considerations
When using downloaded emoji, be aware of the following legal issues:
- Copyright – Most emoji sets are protected by copyright. Only use them within license restrictions.
- Attribution – Give proper attribution when required by the emoji provider.
- Trademark – Do not use branded emoji like Disney or Apple emoji without permission.
- Offensive emoji – Avoid potentially offensive, insensitive or illegal use of emoji.
Make sure you comply with the emoji source’s license, terms of use and attribution policy. Contact them directly for any clarification.
Conclusion
Emoji are a fun and engaging way to communicate visually across digital platforms. By downloading emoji, you can customize how you chat, tweet, email and more. Free sources like Emojipedia, EmojiOne and Noto Emoji offer diverse emoji for everyone.
Follow emoji downloader best practices for optimal quality and legal use. Insert downloaded emoji into documents, presentations, websites and messaging apps to bring your content to life. With the right emoji, you can express yourself in a whole new way.