Toolbar

Toolbar from the text editor gedit. From left to right, the icons are for creating a new file; opening an existing file; saving a file (a floppy disk icon); printing the current file; undoing and redoing edits (grayed out since no edits have been made); cut, copy, and paste; search; search and replace

The toolbar, also called a bar or standard toolbar (originally known as ribbon),^[1]^[2] is a graphical control element on which on-screen icons can be used. A toolbar often allows for quick access to functions that are commonly used in the program. Some examples of functions a toolbar might have are open file, save, and change font. Toolbars are usually distinguished from palettes by their integration into the edges of the screen or of other windows. This can result in wasted space if multiple underpopulated bars are stacked atop each other or interface inefficiency if overloaded bars are placed on small windows.^[3]

^ The 1996 Oxford Dictionary of Computing describes the term "ribbon" in user interface design as "...a horizontal row of control icons that can often be redefined to suit the user's requirements."- what is currently more commonly referred to as "toolbar". Illingworth, Valerie, ed. (1996). Oxford Dictionary of Computing (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0192800466. LCCN 98114667. OCLC 44963186.
^ ESPRIT '88: putting the technology to use : proceedings of the 5th Annual ESPRIT Conference, Brussels, November 14-17, 1988, Part 2. North-Holland. 1988. ISBN 978-0-444-87145-9. Retrieved 28 May 2013. [...] a ribbon that contains labeled icons (64×64 bit maps) representing tasks and tools that has been instantiated by the user. Each tasktool is represented by a different icon.
^ "What is a Toolbar?". Computer Hope. Retrieved 2021-09-21.

[1] The 1996 Oxford Dictionary of Computing describes the term "ribbon" in user interface design as "...a horizontal row of control icons that can often be redefined to suit the user's requirements."- what is currently more commonly referred to as "toolbar". Illingworth, Valerie, ed. (1996). Oxford Dictionary of Computing (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0192800466. LCCN 98114667. OCLC 44963186.

[Innovation1988-2] ESPRIT '88: putting the technology to use : proceedings of the 5th Annual ESPRIT Conference, Brussels, November 14-17, 1988, Part 2. North-Holland. 1988. ISBN 978-0-444-87145-9. Retrieved 28 May 2013. [...] a ribbon that contains labeled icons (64×64 bit maps) representing tasks and tools that has been instantiated by the user. Each tasktool is represented by a different icon.

[3] "What is a Toolbar?". Computer Hope. Retrieved 2021-09-21.

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