# Icons & Names

> Source: `src/content/docs/actors/appearance.mdx`
> Canonical URL: https://rivet.dev/docs/actors/appearance
> Description: Customize actors with display names and icons for the Rivet inspector and dashboard.

---
# Icons & Names

Actors can be customized with a display name and icon that appear in the Rivet inspector & dashboard. This helps identify actors at a glance when managing your application.

## Configuration

Set the `name` and `icon` properties in your actor's `options`:

```typescript
import { actor } from "rivetkit";

const chatRoom = actor({
  options: {
    name: "Chat Room",    // Human-friendly display name
    icon: "comments",     // FontAwesome icon name
  },
  state: { messages: [] },
  actions: {
    // ...
  }
});
```

## Icon Formats

The `icon` property accepts two formats:

### Emoji

Use any emoji character directly:

```typescript
import { actor } from "rivetkit";

const notificationService = actor({
  options: {
    name: "Notifications",
    icon: "🔔",
  },
  // ...
});
```

### FontAwesome Icons

Use [FontAwesome](https://fontawesome.com/search) icon names without the "fa" prefix:

```typescript
import { actor } from "rivetkit";

const gameServer = actor({
  options: {
    name: "Game Server",
    icon: "gamepad",
  },
  // ...
});

const analyticsWorker = actor({
  options: {
    name: "Analytics",
    icon: "chart-line",
  },
  // ...
});
```

## Default Behavior

If no `icon` is specified, actors display the default actor icon. If no `name` is specified, the actor's registry key (e.g., `chatRoom`, `gameServer`) is displayed instead.

## Examples

Here are some common patterns:

```typescript
import { actor } from "rivetkit";

// Chat/messaging actors
const chatRoom = actor({
  options: { name: "Chat Room", icon: "comments" },
  // ...
});

// Game-related actors
const matchmaker = actor({
  options: { name: "Matchmaker", icon: "users" },
  // ...
});

const gameSession = actor({
  options: { name: "Game Session", icon: "gamepad" },
  // ...
});

// Data processing actors
const dataProcessor = actor({
  options: { name: "Data Processor", icon: "microchip" },
  // ...
});

// Using emojis for quick identification
const alertService = actor({
  options: { name: "Alerts", icon: "🚨" },
  // ...
});
```

## Advanced: Run Handler Metadata

For library developers creating reusable run handlers, you can bundle icon and name metadata directly with the `run` property. This allows libraries to provide sensible defaults without requiring users to configure them manually.

Instead of returning a function from your run handler factory, return an object with `name`, `icon`, and `run`:

```typescript
import type { RunConfig } from "rivetkit";

type MyOptions = {
  mode?: "safe" | "fast";
};

function myCustomRunHandler(_options: MyOptions): RunConfig {
  const run: RunConfig["run"] = async (_c) => {
    // Your run handler logic...
  };

  return {
    name: "My Custom Handler",
    icon: "bolt",
    run,
  };
}
```

Users can then use this directly:

```typescript
import { actor } from "rivetkit";

const myCustomRunHandler = (_options: Record<string, unknown>) => ({
  name: "My Custom Handler",
  icon: "bolt",
  run: async () => {},
});

const myActor = actor({
  run: myCustomRunHandler({ /* options */ }),
  // Picks up "My Custom Handler" name and "bolt" icon in registry metadata
});
```

This run-handler metadata is currently applied through the registry and serverless metadata paths. The native runtime and inspector config read the actor's `options.name` and `options.icon` directly, so set those explicitly if you need the name or icon to appear everywhere.

Actor-level `options.name` and `options.icon` always take precedence, allowing users to override library defaults:

```typescript
import { actor } from "rivetkit";

const myCustomRunHandler = (_options: Record<string, unknown>) => ({
  name: "My Custom Handler",
  icon: "bolt",
  run: async () => {},
});

const myActor = actor({
  options: {
    name: "Custom Name",  // Overrides "My Custom Handler"
    icon: "rocket",       // Overrides "bolt"
  },
  run: myCustomRunHandler({ /* options */ }),
});
```

The built-in `workflow()` helper uses this pattern to automatically display the workflow icon for workflow-based actors.

_Source doc path: /docs/actors/appearance_