An **all-over charge** is a single device that occupies the whole or substantially the whole of a flag’s field, rather than being confined to a portion of it. Such charges include large central emblems, full-field crosses and saltires, and sweeping geometric devices that touch all four edges. All-over charges produce instantly recognisable silhouettes and are favoured in modern flag design for their legibility.
**Example**: The maple leaf on the flag of Canada is an all-over charge that fills most of the central white band.
**See also**: [charge](/glossary/charge/), [field](/glossary/field/), [geometric-construction](/glossary/geometric-construction/), [defacement](/glossary/defacement/)