隨著資訊科技的快速發展，以電腦為媒介，人與人之間的聯繫，透過網路造成了一種新的溝通系統，人們在虛擬社區中互動，逐漸發展出特有的網路規範，及語言溝通模式。網路的文字互動使得人際溝通缺少了動作、語氣。表情...等的「非語言訊息」(Nonverbal)，因此，網路語言表情圖像符號的產生使得網路溝通變得更為生動、有趣。本研究的目的，即透過文獻資料整理、分析方式針對現有的網路語言表情進行整理、研究，以探討網路語言表情圖像符號的視覺風格。本研究將網路語言表情圖像符號依形體及特性分為六大類：分別為1、臉部表情符號2、肢體表情符號3、身勢表情符號4、生物類符號5、物品道具符號6、文字符號繪圖，進行造形風格的比較、歸納，再分析。有關於視覺符號的部份，主要是以索緒爾(Saussure)在符號理論所提出的「符號具」(signifier)、「符號義」(signified)二面性符號觀點，進行視覺符號探討與分析，並探究臺灣網路語言表情圖像符號的視覺發展。

As steady progress and development of technological information, computers serve as the main media for communication. Thus, internet has created a new way for people's interaction through virtual communication. Therefore, new way of norms and languages has been created. Using internet written languages lacks tone of speaking, expression (nonverbal message) and so on. Therefore, new symbol has been created. The goal of this research is to understand the current internet trend in languages and find out how it is the internet image language style through literature analytic method. This research analyze and divides the internet language and image symbol into six categories:1-Facial expression 2-Facial and hand expression 3-Body expression 4-Biological symbol 5-Object and tool symbol 6-Written symbol image. We will make a comparison and analysis through these six categories. As regards to visual symbol, we mainly use Saussure symbol theory "signifier" & "signified" as symbol reference to conduct and analyze the development of Taiwan's internet language, image, symbol and image expressions.