Overview - ISO/IEC TR 10036:2020 (Glyph identifiers, font information interchange)
ISO/IEC TR 10036:2020 documents the registered glyph identifiers and glyph images formerly maintained for ISO/IEC 10036:1996. It preserves the glyph registry published by the former registration authority (maintenance continued until 2018) and provides an archival reference after the registration procedure was terminated. The Technical Report is intended to support font information interchange, clarifying the distinction between characters and glyphs and making the registry of glyph identifiers available for interoperability, archival and reference use.
Key topics and technical details
- Glyph identifier definition: a sequential integer (decimal) assigned to a glyph image and associated font-related object data.
- Glyph table: the main data resource; each entry shows the decimal glyph identifier above the registered glyph image. The glyph table is published online (see the GlyphTable.pdf referenced in the report).
- Reserved identifiers: some identifiers exist in the database without associated images; these entries are shown as “reserved.”
- Presentation/metrics guidance:
- Each glyph image is displayed within a square cell but is not stretched to fill it.
- Proportional glyphs may not be centered; some glyph images include wide surrounding spaces (not essential to glyph identity).
- Certain diacritical mark images include a dotted circle (for code-chart printing); normal use typically involves pre-composed glyphs.
- Scope limits: the report does not contain normative references and does not specify a future registration procedure (that procedure was retired). Its purpose is archival publication of already-registered identifiers.
Practical applications and users
ISO/IEC TR 10036:2020 is useful for:
- Font producers and type designers needing canonical glyph identifiers for interchange and archival purposes.
- Software developers working on font engines, rendering stacks, page description languages, or XML/markup that embed glyph identifiers.
- CJK typography specialists who require fine distinctions between presentation forms without overusing Private Use Area (PUA) code points.
- Digital archivists and preservationists who must record exact glyph images and identifiers for long-term reproducibility.
- Standards bodies and implementers aligning font formats and document processing systems for interoperability.
Practical benefits include improved font interoperability, clearer mapping between glyphs and identifiers (avoiding reliance on PUA), and a definitive archival reference for previously registered glyphs.
Related standards and references
- ISO/IEC 9541 (all parts) - Font information interchange
- ISO/IEC 10180:1995 - Standard Page Description Language (SPDL)
- ISO/IEC TR 15285:1998 - Operational model for characters and glyphs
- External references cited in the report: TrueType Reference Manual (Apple), W3C EGIX note on embedding glyph identifiers
Keywords: ISO/IEC TR 10036:2020, glyph identifiers, glyph registry, font information interchange, font interoperability, CJK typography, Private Use Area, glyph table.