Peircean triadic sign model

The Peircean triadic model describes how a sign functions through three components: the "representamen" (the form or sign itself), the "object" (what the sign refers to or stands for), and the "interpretant" (the understanding or meaning that the sign produces in the mind). Essentially, a sign is not just a symbol but a process involving a symbol, its referent, and the interpretation by a viewer. This cycle explains how signs communicate meaning across different contexts and interpretations, emphasizing that meaning arises through this dynamic interaction rather than from the sign alone.