The correct spelling is B-A-D-G-E
A badge is a small visual indicator that appears on your screen to show status, count, or achievement. It is spelled with six letters: B, A, D, G, E. The word comes from the physical badges people wear on clothing, and the computer version works the same way — it marks something important at a glance.
You see badges constantly without thinking about them. The red circle with a number on your email icon showing unread messages is a badge. The small notification dot on your phone's settings app is a badge. The achievement icon you unlock in a video game is a badge. They all do the same job: they tell you something has changed or something matters.
Key Takeaways
- Badge is spelled B-A-D-G-E and refers to a small visual marker on your screen that shows status, count, or progress.
- The most common badge is the notification counter — the red circle with a number showing unread emails, messages, or updates.
- Badges appear in operating systems, apps, websites, and games to draw your attention to something new or important.
- Different apps use different badge styles, but they all serve the same purpose: marking something at a glance without opening the app.
Where you see badges in everyday use
On your phone or computer, badges live in specific places. On iOS (Apple phones and tablets), badges appear as small red circles in the corner of app icons on your home screen. Android phones show similar circles, sometimes with different colors depending on the app. On Windows and Mac computers, badges sit on taskbar icons or in notification centers.
Email clients like Gmail and Outlook use badges to show how many unread messages you have. Social media apps like Facebook and Instagram use badges to show new friend requests, messages, or comments. Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Slack use badges to show unread conversations. Even your operating system uses badges — macOS shows a badge on the System Preferences icon when updates are available.
What information a badge can show
Badges typically show one of three things: a count, a status, or an achievement. A count badge displays a number — usually how many unread items exist. A status badge shows whether something is active, offline, or needs attention, often as a colored dot (green for online, gray for offline, red for urgent). An achievement badge marks that you have completed something, earned something, or unlocked something.
Some badges are interactive. Tapping or clicking a badge on your phone usually opens the app and takes you to the unread items. On a desktop, clicking a badge might open a notification panel or the app itself. Other badges are purely informational — they tell you something changed, but clicking them does nothing.
Why apps use badges instead of other notifications
Badges are quieter than alerts or sounds. They do not interrupt you with a noise or a pop-up window. They sit on your app icon and wait for you to notice them. This makes them useful for information that matters but is not urgent — you can see at a glance that you have three unread emails without your phone buzzing or chiming.
Badges also save space. A single small circle with a number takes up far less room than a full notification message. On a crowded home screen or taskbar, a badge tells you what you need to know without cluttering the interface. This is why operating systems and app makers prefer badges for routine notifications like message counts and update availability.
Customizing badge settings on your device
Most phones and computers let you turn badges on or off for individual apps. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Notifications, then choose the app. Toggle "Badge App Icon" on or off. On Android, the process varies by phone, but usually involves going to Settings, Apps, then the specific app, then Notifications, and looking for a badge or notification dot option.
On Windows, you can control badges through Settings, System, Notifications and Actions. On Mac, go to System Preferences, Notifications, then choose the app and toggle badge settings. Some apps also have their own badge settings inside the app itself — check the app's preferences or settings menu if the system-level controls do not give you what you need.
Common misspellings and why they happen
People sometimes spell it "badg" (missing the E), "baje" (swapping letters), or "batch" (confusing it with a similar word). The confusion usually comes from how the word sounds when spoken — the final E is silent, so it is straightforward to forget it is there. The same thing happens with words like "bridge" or "fudge," where the E at the end does not make a sound but is still part of the spelling.
Another source of confusion is that "badge" and "batch" sound similar in casual speech. A batch is a group of items processed together (like a batch of cookies or a batch of updates). A badge is a marker or indicator. They are completely different words with different meanings, but the similar sound can trip up spellers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a badge and a notification?
A notification is a message that pops up or sounds to alert you when ready. A badge is a small marker that stays on your app icon and waits for you to notice it. Notifications interrupt you; badges do not. Many apps send both — a notification when something first happens, and a badge that stays until you open the app.
Can I remove badges from my apps?
Yes. On most phones and computers, you can turn off badges for individual apps through the notification settings. Go to your device settings, find Notifications, choose the app, and toggle off the badge option. Some apps also let you control badges from within the app itself.
Why does my email app show a badge even though I have read all my emails?
This usually means the app is counting emails you have archived or marked as read but not deleted. Some email apps count only unread messages; others count unread plus flagged or starred messages. Check your app's notification settings or email settings to see what the badge is counting, and you may find an option to change it.
Do all apps support badges?
No. Older apps or apps designed for older operating systems may not support badges. Newer apps almost always do. If an app you use does not show a badge, check whether the app itself has a setting to enable it, or whether your device's notification settings have it turned off for that app.