What are the alikes and differences if icon and rebus?

Answer 1

An icon is intended to be obvious and universally recognized (i.e. the airplane symbol that denotes an airport, or a picture of a trash can to show you where the trash can is located, or a picture of a knife and fork to denote the location of a restaurant). Click here for some great examples of icons: http://understandinggraphics.com/brainy/pick-the-right-icon-for-the-job/

A rebus is meant to be a puzzle (not obvious, and not universally recognized). Like a brain teaser (i.e. a picture of a man above a picture of a board = "man overboard", or:

E

K

A

W

for "Wake Up").

Click here for some clever rebus puzzles: http://www.fun-with-words.com/rebus_puzzle_explain.html