# Awesome Badge Variants: Complete Guide to Styles and Use Cases > Explore awesome badge variants including standard, flat, and flat-2 styles. Learn their use cases for curated lists and project READMEs in this complete guide. - Repository: [Sindre Sorhus/awesome](https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome) - Tags: deep-dive - Published: 2026-07-07 --- **The sindresorhus/awesome repository provides five distinct badge variants—including standard, flat, and flat-2 styles for list headers, plus standard and flat versions for project READMEs—that signal either a curated Awesome list or a project's inclusion in one.** The Awesome badge system in the sindresorhus/awesome repository offers multiple visual variants to accommodate different design aesthetics while maintaining brand consistency. These variants are divided into two functional categories: badges that identify the repository itself as an Awesome list, and badges that indicate a project has been featured in an Awesome list. Understanding the specific use cases for each variant ensures proper implementation across your GitHub projects. ## Awesome Badge Variants for List Headers Use these variants at the top of an actual Awesome list to identify it as a curated collection. ### Standard Awesome Badge The **standard Awesome badge** is the classic rectangular style with 3-D shading. This variant lives in `media/badge.svg` and is served via `https://awesome.re/badge.svg`. Place this at the top of your Awesome list documentation when you want the traditional, established look. ```markdown [![Awesome](https://awesome.re/badge.svg)](https://awesome.re) ``` ### Flat Awesome Badge The **flat Awesome badge** offers a minimal style without the 3-D shading. Located in `media/badge-flat.svg` and served via `https://awesome.re/badge-flat.svg`, this variant provides a cleaner, modern aesthetic for your list's header. ```markdown [![Awesome](https://awesome.re/badge-flat.svg)](https://awesome.re) ``` ### Flat-2 Awesome Badge The **flat-2 Awesome badge** is a slightly thicker flat variant. Stored in `media/badge-flat2.svg` and served via `https://awesome.re/badge-flat2.svg`, choose this when the standard flat badge feels too thin for your design requirements. ```markdown [![Awesome](https://awesome.re/badge-flat2.svg)](https://awesome.re) ``` ## Featured Project Badge Variants Use these variants in project READMEs to advertise that the project appears in an Awesome list. ### Mentioned-in-Awesome Badge The **mentioned-in-Awesome badge** signals that a project is featured in an Awesome list. This variant is stored in `media/mentioned-badge.svg` and served via `https://awesome.re/mentioned-badge.svg`. Add this to your project's README to highlight its inclusion in a curated collection. ```markdown [![Mentioned in Awesome Node.js](https://awesome.re/mentioned-badge.svg)](https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome-nodejs) ``` ### Flat Mentioned-in-Awesome Badge The **flat mentioned-in-Awesome badge** provides the same functionality as the standard mentioned badge but with a flat aesthetic. Located in `media/mentioned-badge-flat.svg` and served via `https://awesome.re/mentioned-badge-flat.svg`, use this when you prefer a minimal look for your project's README. ```markdown [![Mentioned in Awesome Node.js](https://awesome.re/mentioned-badge-flat.svg)](https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome-nodejs) ``` ## Implementation Reference All badge variants are documented in the repository's [`awesome.md`](https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome/blob/main/awesome.md) file under the *Awesome badge* and *Awesome mentioned badge* sections. The source image files reside in the `media/` folder and are automatically served via the CDN at `https://awesome.re/`. When implementing the mentioned-in-Awesome badges, replace the generic URL with the specific Awesome list that features your project: ```markdown [![Mentioned in Awesome React](https://awesome.re/mentioned-badge.svg)](https://github.com/enaqx/awesome-react) [![Mentioned in Awesome Python](https://awesome.re/mentioned-badge-flat.svg)](https://github.com/vinta/awesome-python) ``` ## Summary - **Standard Awesome badge** (`badge.svg`): Classic rectangular style with 3-D shading for traditional Awesome list headers. - **Flat Awesome badge** (`badge-flat.svg`): Minimal style without shading for cleaner list headers. - **Flat-2 Awesome badge** (`badge-flat2.svg`): Thicker flat variant for additional visual weight. - **Mentioned-in-Awesome badge** (`mentioned-badge.svg`): Indicates a project is featured in an Awesome list, placed in project READMEs. - **Flat mentioned-in-Awesome badge** (`mentioned-badge-flat.svg`): Minimal version of the featured project badge. - All variants are served from `https://awesome.re/` and documented in [`awesome.md`](https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome/blob/main/awesome.md). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the difference between the Awesome badge and the Mentioned-in-Awesome badge? The Awesome badge variants identify the repository itself as a curated Awesome list and belong at the top of list documentation, while the Mentioned-in-Awesome badges indicate that a specific project has been featured in an Awesome list and belong in that project's README. According to the source code in [`awesome.md`](https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome/blob/main/awesome.md), these serve distinct purposes: one marks the curator, the other marks the curated content. ### When should I use the flat-2 variant instead of the standard flat badge? Use the flat-2 variant (`badge-flat2.svg`) when the standard flat badge (`badge-flat.svg`) feels too thin for your design. As implemented in the sindresorhus/awesome repository, the flat-2 variant provides slightly thicker lines and more visual weight while maintaining the minimal flat aesthetic without 3-D shading. ### Where are the badge image files stored in the repository? The badge image files are stored in the `media/` directory of the sindresorhus/awesome repository. The source files include `media/badge.svg`, `media/badge-flat.svg`, `media/badge-flat2.svg`, `media/mentioned-badge.svg`, and `media/mentioned-badge-flat.svg`. These files are served via the CDN at `https://awesome.re/` and referenced in the documentation within [`awesome.md`](https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome/blob/main/awesome.md). ### Can I customize the link target for the Awesome badge? Yes, while the standard Awesome badge links to `https://awesome.re`, the Mentioned-in-Awesome badges should link to the specific Awesome list that features your project. The markdown syntax allows you to customize the URL in the parentheses, such as `https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome-nodejs` for the Node.js Awesome list.