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Window (computing)

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331: 258: 112: 397:. Typically titlebars can be used to provide window motion enabling the window to be moved around the screen by using a drag action. Some window managers provide titlebars which are purely for decorative purposes and offer no window motion facility. These window managers do not allow windows to be moved around the screen by using a drag action on the titlebar. 392:
and part of the window decoration provided by some window managers. As a convention, it is located at the top of the window as a horizontal bar. The titlebar is typically used to display the name of the application or the name of the open document, and may provide title bar buttons for minimizing,
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Windows usually include other graphical objects, possibly including a menu-bar, toolbars, controls, icons and often a working area. In the working area, the document, image, folder contents or other main object is displayed. Around the working area, within the bounding window, there may be other
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enabling the window to be moved or resized by dragging the border. Some window managers provide useless borders which are purely for decorative purposes and offer no window motion facility. These window managers do not allow windows to be resized by using a drag action on the border.
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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. macOS applications commonly have a proxy
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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.
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was developing Office applications for the Mac at that time. Some speculate that this gave them access to Apple's OS before it was released and thus influenced the design of the windowing system in what would eventually be called
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in the title bar. This makes it unnecessary to use the main window for the tabs, but usually results in the title becoming truncated. An asterisk at its beginning may be used to signify unsaved changes.
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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: macOS displays a dot in the center of its close button;
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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
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maximizing, closing or rolling up of application windows. These functions are typically placed in the top-right of the screen to allow fast and inaccurate inputs through
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In the predominant layout for modern window decorations, the top bar contains the title of that window and buttons which perform windowing-related actions such as:
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The border exists primarily to allow the user to resize the window, but also to create a visual separation between the window's contents and the rest of the
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Xerox PARC debuts the first GUI, which uses icons, pop-up menus, and overlapping windows that can be controlled easily using a point-and-click technique.
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Typical elements of a window. The window decoration is drawn by an OS-level process such as a window manager. The drawing of the content is the task of
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for example in many web browsers, can make several similar documents or main objects available within a single main application window. Some windows in
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Any window can be split into the window decoration and the window's content, although some systems purposely eschew window decoration as a form of
361: 284:, usually along the top of each window and a minimal border around the other three sides. On Microsoft Windows this is called "non-client area". 1045: 127:). Their earliest systems supported multiple windows, but there was no obvious way to indicate boundaries between them (such as window borders, 1558: 80:. Text-only displays can also support windowing, as a way to maintain multiple independent display areas, such as multiple buffers in 1497: 873: 1006: 980: 925: 899: 697:
Many X window managers for Unix-like systems allow customization of the type and placement of buttons shown in the title bar.
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had worked with PARC briefly at that time. Apple developed an interface based on PARC's interface. It was first used on
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smaller window areas, sometimes called panes or panels, showing relevant information or options. The working area of a
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uses the term "window" to refer to an area within its display while a traditional window, such as controlled by an
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have a feature called a drawer, which is a pane that slides out the side of the window and to show extra options.
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Example of windows on a text-only display. Each grey-bordered area is a separate window showing a different file.
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Default title-bar text often incorporates the name of the application and/or of its developer. The name of the
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Buttons are on the left side of the title bar. Icon is a proxy for the document's filesystem representation.
437: 201: 120: 838: 338: 57:. It usually has a rectangular shape that can overlap with the area of other windows. It displays the 1357: 1077: 1041: 389: 197: 192:. In a modern full-featured windowing system they can be resized, moved, hidden, restored or closed. 833: 491: 216: 50: 1532: 507: 334: 35: 1337: 1183: 823: 413: 235: 72:
Windows are primarily associated with graphical displays, where they can be manipulated with a
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next to the window title that functions the same as the document's icon in the file manager.
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is a window decoration component provided by some window managers, that appears around the
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and some systems allow for customization of the colors, styles and animation effects used.
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This article is about the interface element. For the operating system, see
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in their title bar, sometimes pre- or postfixed by the application name.
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options – depending on the computing environment) may exist to give the
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buttons; and may include other content such as an application icon, a
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some control of title-bar text. Document-oriented applications like a
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Windows are two dimensional objects arranged on a plane called the
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A graphical user interface (GUI) using windows as one of its main "
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may be available from some titlebar buttons or by right-clicking.
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running the application also appears frequently. Various methods (
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Window decorations are considered important for the design of the
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action on the titlebar and may also serve the purpose of a
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for system commands relating to the window, such as a
49:. It consists of a visual area containing some of the 522:The following buttons may appear in the titlebar: 360:. Typically window borders can be used to provide 27:Visual area containing some kind of user interface 1545: 53:of the program it belongs to and is framed by a 602: 200:holds only one main object. "Child windows" in 1092: 1078: 250:. For cover or modification of a window, see 994: 968: 913: 887: 861: 1085: 1071: 502:interfaces, the user may move a window by 280:Window decoration typically consists of a 1498:List of graphical user interface elements 582: 215:Applications that can run either under a 372: 337:draw a border around the windows, while 329: 256: 110: 566: 14: 1546: 1000: 974: 919: 893: 867: 54: 1066: 231:window manager, is called a "frame". 953:from the original on 3 December 2023 241: 939: 513: 432:of the document being edited. Most 24: 150:). They used overlapping windows. 25: 1570: 1559:Graphical user interface elements 553: 325: 95:, whose main components are the 1048:from the original on 2024-06-03 1009:from the original on 2009-09-07 1003:"A History of the GUI (Part 5)" 983:from the original on 2009-09-08 977:"A History of the GUI (Part 4)" 928:from the original on 2009-09-08 922:"A History of the GUI (Part 2)" 902:from the original on 2009-09-18 896:"A History of the GUI (Part 1)" 876:from the original on 2009-09-08 870:"A History of the GUI (Part 3)" 811:Icon is menu of window actions 599:from stacking window managers. 273:is a part of a window in most 223:may use different terminology. 1034: 1020: 119:The idea was developed at the 13: 1: 1042:"Nonclient Area - Win32 apps" 854: 463:The title bar often contains 183: 1245:Head-up display in computing 603:In popular operating systems 202:multiple document interfaces 7: 817: 368: 339:compositing window managers 153:During the 1980s the term " 121:Stanford Research Institute 10: 1575: 1554:Graphical control elements 1094:Graphical control elements 839:Human interface guidelines 245: 106: 76:by employing some kind of 29: 1485: 1439: 1403: 1320: 1232: 1146: 1100: 492:graphical user interfaces 390:graphical control element 198:single document interface 47:graphical control element 834:Graphical user interface 335:Stacking window managers 217:graphical user interface 51:graphical user interface 1533:Zoomable user interface 1001:Reimer, Jeremy (2005). 975:Reimer, Jeremy (2005). 920:Reimer, Jeremy (2005). 894:Reimer, Jeremy (2005). 868:Reimer, Jeremy (2005). 639:Roll-up (Window shade) 36:Window (disambiguation) 1338:Client-side decoration 824:Client-Side Decoration 589:tiling window managers 583:Tiling window managers 381: 346: 266: 134:Research continued at 116: 34:. For other uses, see 1416:Breadcrumb navigation 451:and some versions of 376: 333: 260: 114: 567:Document status icon 440:the contents of the 412:, setup parameters, 263:application software 309:desktop environment 221:text user interface 1275:Progress indicator 1250:HUD in video games 633:Pin (Keep on top) 506:the title bar and 382: 358:background windows 347: 345:around the windows 267: 142:Research Center / 117: 1541: 1540: 1388:Window decoration 1343:Disclosure widget 1147:Data input-output 1108:Adjustment handle 815: 814: 500:Microsoft Windows 275:windowing systems 271:window decoration 242:Window decoration 178:Microsoft Windows 125:Douglas Engelbart 61:of and may allow 55:window decoration 32:Microsoft Windows 18:Window decoration 16:(Redirected from 1566: 1486:Related concepts 1467:Inspector window 1452:Alert dialog box 1445: 1348:Frame / Fieldset 1128:Hamburger button 1087: 1080: 1073: 1064: 1063: 1057: 1056: 1054: 1053: 1038: 1032: 1031: 1024: 1018: 1017: 1015: 1014: 1005:. Ars Technica. 998: 992: 991: 989: 988: 979:. Ars Technica. 972: 966: 965: 960: 958: 943: 937: 936: 934: 933: 924:. Ars Technica. 917: 911: 910: 908: 907: 898:. Ars Technica. 891: 885: 884: 882: 881: 872:. Ars Technica. 865: 844:WIMP (computing) 607: 606: 514:Titlebar buttons 494:, including the 446: 424:may display the 410:escape sequences 395:barrier pointing 379:GNOME Calculator 320:operating system 252:Window treatment 190:desktop metaphor 93:windowing system 41:In computing, a 21: 1574: 1573: 1569: 1568: 1567: 1565: 1564: 1563: 1544: 1543: 1542: 1537: 1481: 1440: 1435: 1431:Virtual desktop 1399: 1316: 1228: 1142: 1096: 1091: 1061: 1060: 1051: 1049: 1040: 1039: 1035: 1026: 1025: 1021: 1012: 1010: 999: 995: 986: 984: 973: 969: 956: 954: 945: 944: 940: 931: 929: 918: 914: 905: 903: 892: 888: 879: 877: 866: 862: 857: 820: 605: 585: 569: 556: 516: 453:Mozilla Firefox 444: 377:A title bar of 371: 328: 255: 248:Window covering 244: 186: 109: 78:pointing device 65:to one or more 39: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1572: 1562: 1561: 1556: 1539: 1538: 1536: 1535: 1530: 1525: 1523:Widget toolkit 1520: 1515: 1510: 1505: 1503:Layout manager 1500: 1495: 1489: 1487: 1483: 1482: 1480: 1479: 1477:Palette window 1474: 1469: 1464: 1459: 1454: 1448: 1446: 1437: 1436: 1434: 1433: 1428: 1426:Navigation bar 1423: 1418: 1413: 1407: 1405: 1401: 1400: 1398: 1397: 1392: 1391: 1390: 1380: 1375: 1370: 1365: 1360: 1355: 1350: 1345: 1340: 1335: 1330: 1324: 1322: 1318: 1317: 1315: 1314: 1309: 1304: 1299: 1294: 1293: 1292: 1287: 1282: 1272: 1270:Loading screen 1267: 1262: 1257: 1252: 1247: 1242: 1236: 1234: 1230: 1229: 1227: 1226: 1221: 1216: 1211: 1206: 1201: 1196: 1191: 1186: 1181: 1176: 1171: 1166: 1161: 1156: 1150: 1148: 1144: 1143: 1141: 1140: 1135: 1130: 1125: 1123:Drop-down list 1120: 1115: 1110: 1104: 1102: 1098: 1097: 1090: 1089: 1082: 1075: 1067: 1059: 1058: 1033: 1019: 993: 967: 938: 912: 886: 859: 858: 856: 853: 852: 851: 849:Window manager 846: 841: 836: 831: 829:Display server 826: 819: 816: 813: 812: 809: 806: 804: 802: 799: 797: 794: 791: 788: 785: 783: 780: 774: 773: 771: 769: 766: 764: 761: 759: 756: 754: 751: 748: 745: 743: 737: 736: 733: 731: 728: 726: 723: 721: 718: 716: 713: 710: 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1303: 1300: 1298: 1295: 1291: 1288: 1286: 1285:Splash screen 1283: 1281: 1278: 1277: 1276: 1273: 1271: 1268: 1266: 1263: 1261: 1258: 1256: 1253: 1251: 1248: 1246: 1243: 1241: 1238: 1237: 1235: 1233:Informational 1231: 1225: 1222: 1220: 1217: 1215: 1212: 1210: 1207: 1205: 1202: 1200: 1197: 1195: 1192: 1190: 1187: 1185: 1184:Toggle switch 1182: 1180: 1177: 1175: 1172: 1170: 1167: 1165: 1162: 1160: 1157: 1155: 1152: 1151: 1149: 1145: 1139: 1136: 1134: 1131: 1129: 1126: 1124: 1121: 1119: 1116: 1114: 1111: 1109: 1106: 1105: 1103: 1101:Command input 1099: 1095: 1088: 1083: 1081: 1076: 1074: 1069: 1068: 1065: 1047: 1043: 1037: 1029: 1023: 1008: 1004: 997: 982: 978: 971: 964: 952: 948: 942: 927: 923: 916: 901: 897: 890: 875: 871: 864: 860: 850: 847: 845: 842: 840: 837: 835: 832: 830: 827: 825: 822: 821: 810: 807: 805: 803: 800: 798: 795: 792: 789: 786: 784: 781: 779: 776: 775: 772: 770: 767: 765: 762: 760: 757: 755: 752: 749: 746: 744: 742: 739: 738: 734: 732: 729: 727: 724: 722: 719: 717: 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44: 37: 33: 19: 1472:Modal window 1442: 1404:Navigational 1382: 1280:Progress bar 1240:Balloon help 1199:Radio button 1194:List builder 1169:Cycle button 1159:Color picker 1118:Context menu 1050:. Retrieved 1036: 1022: 1011:. Retrieved 996: 985:. Retrieved 970: 962: 955:. Retrieved 941: 930:. Retrieved 915: 904:. Retrieved 889: 878:. Retrieved 863: 646:Context menu 586: 570: 557: 548:context menu 546:Note that a 545: 538:Roll-up (or 521: 517: 489: 480: 476: 472: 468: 462: 455:place their 442:HTML element 434:web browsers 414:command-line 399: 385: 383: 349: 348: 313: 306: 286: 281: 279: 270: 268: 233: 214: 194: 187: 165:Apple's Lisa 159: 152: 133: 118: 86: 71: 62: 58: 42: 40: 1493:File viewer 1462:File dialog 1411:Address bar 1174:Date picker 597:status line 575:appends an 540:WindowShade 422:text editor 343:drop shadow 171:computers. 1548:Categories 1457:Dialog box 1321:Containers 1302:Status bar 1209:Search box 1052:2024-06-03 1013:2009-09-14 987:2009-09-14 957:8 December 932:2009-09-14 906:2009-09-14 880:2009-09-14 855:References 236:minimalism 184:Properties 167:and later 129:title bars 1518:Scrolling 1513:Mouseover 1421:Hyperlink 1395:Workspace 1333:Tree view 1328:Accordion 1204:Scrollbar 1179:Grid view 1164:Combo box 1028:"Unknown" 656:Unix-like 630:Minimize 622:Maximize 282:title bar 225:GNU Emacs 173:Microsoft 169:Macintosh 140:Palo Alto 131:, etc.). 89:metaphors 67:processes 1441:Special 1353:Menu bar 1290:Throbber 1224:Text box 1189:List box 1154:Checkbox 1138:Pie menu 1046:Archived 1007:Archived 981:Archived 951:Archived 926:Archived 900:Archived 874:Archived 818:See also 626:Menu bar 577:asterisk 532:Minimize 529:Maximize 508:dragging 504:grabbing 490:In many 473:minimize 469:maximize 426:filename 418:end-user 386:Titlebar 369:Titlebar 297:Minimize 294:Maximize 219:or in a 148:Alan Kay 146:(led by 123:(led by 99:and the 1443:windows 1378:Toolbar 1363:Popover 1312:Tooltip 1297:Sidebar 1260:Infobar 1219:Spinner 778:Windows 741:RISC OS 642:Status 636:Resize 573:RISC OS 487:, etc. 465:widgets 303:Roll-up 107:History 74:pointer 1383:Window 1368:Ribbon 1214:Slider 1113:Button 650:Notes 619:Close 535:Resize 496:Mac OS 477:rollup 438:render 318:of an 300:Resize 204:, and 59:output 43:window 1358:Panel 1307:Toast 1265:Label 703:macOS 658:with 613:Icon 587:Some 526:Close 485:clock 481:close 445:title 436:will 388:is a 341:draw 291:Close 210:macOS 161:Apple 136:Xerox 82:Emacs 63:input 45:is a 1528:WIMP 1255:Icon 1133:Menu 959:2023 808:Yes 801:Yes 796:Yes 793:Yes 790:Yes 787:Yes 782:Yes 768:Yes 763:Yes 758:Yes 753:Yes 750:Yes 747:Yes 730:Yes 725:Yes 720:Yes 715:Yes 712:Yes 707:Yes 694:Yes 691:Yes 688:Yes 685:Yes 682:Yes 679:Yes 676:Yes 673:Yes 670:Yes 667:Yes 664:Yes 593:drag 561:icon 498:and 479:and 457:tabs 430:path 406:menu 402:host 384:The 269:The 206:tabs 155:WIMP 144:PARC 1373:Tab 660:X11 610:OS 428:or 229:X11 1550:: 1044:. 961:. 510:. 475:, 471:, 311:. 277:. 238:. 180:. 103:. 69:. 1086:e 1079:t 1072:v 1055:. 1030:. 1016:. 990:. 935:. 909:. 883:. 542:) 265:. 254:. 38:. 20:)

Index

Window decoration
Microsoft Windows
Window (disambiguation)
graphical control element
graphical user interface
window decoration
processes
pointer
pointing device
Emacs
metaphors
windowing system
display server
window manager

Stanford Research Institute
Douglas Engelbart
title bars
Xerox
Palo Alto
PARC
Alan Kay
WIMP
Apple
Apple's Lisa
Macintosh
Microsoft
Microsoft Windows
desktop metaphor
single document interface

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