Flash Basics > The Flash work environment > Symbols and instances

Symbols and instances

Symbols are reusable elements that you use with a movie. Symbols can be graphics, buttons, movie clips, sound files, or fonts. When you create a symbol, the symbol is stored in the file's library. When you place a symbol on the Stage, you create an instance of that symbol.

Symbols reduce file size because, regardless of how many instances of a symbol you create, Flash stores the symbol in the file only once. It is a good idea to use symbols, animated or otherwise, for every element that appears more than once in a movie. You can modify the properties of an instance without affecting the master symbol, and you can edit the master symbol to change all instances.

You can edit symbols in place on the Stage. Other elements on the Stage are visible but dimmed. You can also edit a symbol in a separate window. When you edit a symbol, the Timeline window displays only the Timeline of the symbol you are editing. See Editing symbols.

You can locate and open a symbol in the library from within the Movie Explorer, using the Find in Library command. See Using the Movie Explorer.

For more information on symbols and instances, see the Symbols lesson, located under Help > Lessons > Symbols, and Using symbols and instances overview.

Editing a symbol in isolation (left) and editing a symbol in its context in the movie.