Title bar

In computing, the title bar (or titlebar) consists of that part of a window where the title of the window appears. 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 manufacturer. 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. Most web browsers will render the contents of the title HTML element 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.

Title bar from Calculator in GNOME on Ubuntu.

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.

Useless Titlebars

Some window managers provide useless 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.

List of X window managers and the types of titlebar that they use

• 3dwm - titlebars have close and menu buttons
• aewm - titlebars have a close button
• afterstep - titlebars have close, menu and optional minimize and maximize buttons
• amiwm - titlebars have menu, minimize, maximize, and close buttons
• afterstep - titlebars have menu, minimize, maximize, and close buttons
• asclassic - titlebars have close and menu buttons
• ctwm - titlebars have menu, minimize, maximize, rollup and close buttons
• icewm - titlebars provide a rightclick menu and have minimize, maximize, rollup and close buttons
• ion2 - titlebars provide a menu when a rightclick event is applied
• fvwm - titlebars have menu, minimize, maximize, rollup and close buttons
• icewm - titlebars have minimize, maximize, rollup and close buttons
• fvwm95 - titlebars have minimize, maximize, and close buttons
• heliwm - can optionally display titlebars
• icewm - titlebars have menu, minimize, maximize, rollup and close buttons
• jwm - titlebars have minimize, maximize, rollup and close buttons
• karmen - titlebars have minimize and close buttons
• Lightweight window manager - titlebars have only a close button
• mwm - titlebars have menu, minimize and maximize buttons
• olwm titlebars provide a rightclick menu, and a minimize button
• openbox - titlebars have minimize, maximize, rollup and close buttons
• pwm2 - titlebars provide a menu when a rightclick event is applied
• qvwm - titlebars have minimize, maximize, and close buttons
• sawfish - titlebars have minimize, maximize, rollup and close buttons
• twm - titlebars have minimize, resize buttons
• vtwm - titlebars have menu, minimize, resize buttons

See also

• Window manager
• Desktop environment

External links

• Example and discussion using Microsoft Paint's title bar

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