Web designers tend to use the same icon (a magnifier) for representing 2 actions (search or zoom). It’s an standard for both icons. We can see it easily by making a search in iconfiner.net. If you make a search with the word “search” you obtain this results:

Results for search

If you make the search “zoom” we obtain similar results:

Should we standarize this object for just one of the two actions? Which one do you think it fits the best?

Here a list of webs using a magnifier icon for searching:

  • Facebook
  • Live Search
  • Apple
  • Atrápalo

Here a list of webs using a magnifier icon for zooming:

  • Flickr

In my opinion, the icon can be used perfectly for both actions. However, I recommend to use them convined with text that describe the functionallity and never use the magnifier icon for searching and zooming in the same website.