Vexillology is the study of flags, their history, symbolism, and design. It is a sub-discipline of heraldry, which is the study of coats of arms and other insignia used to identify individuals or organizations. Vexillology is an important part of cultural studies, as flags are often used to represent nations, states, and other entities. The term 'vexillology' was coined in 1957 by American scholar Whitney Smith.