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Window (computing)

technology Maturity 7-9 Next article →

{

"text": "In computing, a window is a graphical control element used to manage information.

Window (windowing system)
Window (windowing system)

It consists of a visual area that contains part of a program's graphical user interface. Most windows are rectangular in shape. They are arranged on a two-dimensional plane called the desktop metaphor. This metaphor allows windows to overlap with one another. A window displays the output of a process and allows for user input. While most windows appear on graphical displays, text-only displays can also support windowing. In these cases, windows help maintain multiple independent display areas. For example, the GNU Emacs program uses windows to show different buffers.

Text windowing in GNU Emacs
Text windowing in GNU Emacs

In text environments, windows are often controlled by a keyboard.\n\nA window is divided into two main parts: the content and the decoration. The content is drawn by the application software itself. This is often called the working area. The working area holds the main object, such as a document, an image, or folder contents. Some windows include smaller areas called panes or panels to show extra information. Within a single application, child windows or browser tabs can hold several different objects.

Window (windowing system)
Window (windowing system)

The second part is the window decoration. This is drawn by an operating system-level process like a window manager. The decoration provides a frame around the content. It usually includes a title bar at the top and a border on the other three sides. On Microsoft Windows, this entire decorative area is known as the non-client area.\n\nThe window decoration contains several functional components. The title bar is a horizontal bar located at the top of the window. It typically displays the name of the application or the specific document being edited. Some browsers, like Google Chrome, even place tabs directly inside the title bar. The title bar also allows for window motion. A user can move a window by grabbing the title bar and dragging it. Many title bars also include buttons for specific commands. These buttons allow users to close, minimize, maximize, or resize a window. Some systems also include a roll-up or WindowShade function. On macOS, these buttons are located on the left side of the title bar.\n\nWindow borders serve both visual and functional purposes. They create a visual separation between the window's contents and the

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Text windowing in GNU Emacs.png
Text windowing in GNU Emacs.png
File:Window (windowing system).svg
Window (windowing system).svg
File:Window border in the compositing and stacking window managers.png
Window border in the compositing and...
File:Titlebar.png
Titlebar.png
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