Title bar

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In computing, the title bar (or titlebar) is a part of the window decoration. Most graphical operating systems and window managers position the title bar at the top of the application window as a horizontal bar.

Default title-bar text often incorporates the name of the application and/or of its developer. The name of the host running the application also appears frequently. Various methods (menu-selections, escape sequences, setup parameters, command-line options — depending on the computing environment) may exist to give the end-user some control of title-bar text. Document-oriented applications like a text editor may display the filename or path of the document being edited. Most web browsers will render the contents of the HTML element title in their title bar, often pre- or postfixed by the application name. Google Chrome places its tabs in the title bar, so it is not necessary to use the main window for the tabs.

The title bar often contains icons for system commands relating to the window, such as a maximize, minimize, rollup and close buttons; and may include other content such as an application icon, a clock, etc.

In many graphical user interfaces, including the Mac OS and Microsoft Windows interfaces, the user may move a window by grabbing the title bar and dragging.

Types of titlebar

Typically titlebars can be used to provide window motion enabling the window to be moved around the screen by using a drag action.

Titlebar buttons

Some window managers provide titlebar buttons which provide the facility to minimize, maximize, roll-up or close application windows. Some window managers may display the titlebar buttons in the taskbar or taskpanel, rather than in the titlebars.

The following buttons may appear in the titlebar:

  • close
  • maximize
  • minimize
  • resize
  • roll-up

Note that a context menu may be available from some titlebar buttons or by right-clicking.

Titlebar icon

Some window managers display a small icon in the titlebar that may vary according to the application on which it appears. The titlebar icon may behave like a menu button, or may provide a context menu facility. Mac OS X applications commonly have a proxy icon next to the window title that functions the same as the document's icon in the file manager.

Document status icon

Some window managers display an icon or symbol to indicate that the contents of the window have not been saved or confirmed in some way: Mac OS X displays a dot in the center of its close button; RISC OS appends an asterisk to the title.

Tiling window managers

Some tiling window managers provide title bars which are purely for informative purposes and offer no controls or menus. These window managers do not allow windows to be moved around the screen by using a drag action on the titlebar.

List of OS specific window managers and the types of titlebar they use

OS Icon Back Close Maximize Menu Meta Minimize Resize Roll-up Status Context menu Notes
OS X Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
RISC OS Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Windows Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Icon is context menu

Many X window managers for Linux/Unix allow customization of the buttons shown in the titlebar, some with much greater flexibility than others.

See also

References

    External links

    Window management topics
    Methods
    Tiling examples
    Stacking examples
    Compositing examples
    OSes with a WS
    Components
    Related reading
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