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What is a toolbar?

Toolbars are small graphical icons created for easier access to computer commands. They are typically located at the top of an application and can be customized to display the most commonly used functions of the software. They are used in web browsers to display frequently used websites and perform simple browser functions such as reloading a page or adding a website to your favorites.

Difference between toolbars and menu bars

The main difference between a toolbar and a menu bar is that a toolbar contains images and icons, while a menu bar contains words. Functionally, a toolbar acts as a shortcut to a specific function or command. When you click on an icon in the toolbar, the command is executed immediately. On the other hand, clicking a menu bar simply opens the options below it.

In Microsoft Word, for example, there is a menu bar called "File". Clicking "File" lists the options below it, such as "New", "Save", or "Print", which are the specific commands. A toolbar image with a small printer icon prints the Microsoft Word document immediately.

Toolbars often contain icons

Since a toolbar is a graphical representation of a particular command, toolbar icons must be able to represent the commands they execute. They should be obvious, or at least give users clues as to what they are doing. A printer icon, of course, means that it is a print command. A floppy disk or diskette icon can be a shortcut to saving a file, since floppy disks and diskettes are used to store and save files.

Toolbars have a greater variety

There are five types of toolbars.

1. The first is the primary toolbar, which work independently without a menu bar. The menu bar in a primary toolbar is either hidden or inactive.
2. The second is the additional Toolbarwhich works with a menu bar. In this type, the toolbar is only an addition to the menu bar, so only a few toolbars are displayed.
3. A Toolbar menu is a hybrid of toolbar and menu bar. It is a toolbar that contains two or three similar commands that are grouped together.
4. Customizable toolbars allow users to resize, modify, edit and even change the contents of the toolbar.
5. The Toolbar of a palette window is folded out of the application and presents the toolbar in batches or arrays. An example of this is the Paint

   Toolbar

   which displays the different colors available.

Toolbar in Computer

A toolbar is a horizontal or vertical row of clickable icons which perform specific application and operating system functions. Toolbars are normally found in word-processing applications, web browsers, websites and operating system.

A Toolbar in a computer means a group of buttons or icons which are part of the open window or software program's interface. If a toolbar is a part of the software program's interface, then the toolbar normally sits directly under the menu bar. For example, a toolbar included in Adobe Photoshop permits us to adjust each selected tool's settings. If we select the paintbrush option, then the toolbar provides the options to change the size of the brush, flow and opacity. The toolbar included in Microsoft Word permits us to open, print, and save documents and we can also change the style, font and size of the text. Just like several programs, we can customize the Word toolbar by adding or deleting the options. We can also move the toolbar to the various portions of the screen.

The toolbar may also exist in the open window. For example, in Mac OS X, every window contains a New Folder button, View Options, a Get Info button and back and forward buttons; we can also modify the toolbar of the Mac OS X window.

A toolbar is also known as a standard toolbar or bar. A toolbar is defined as a row of boxes which is mostly present at the top of the application window and handles the functions of the software. The boxes frequently contain pictures that match the function they handle or control, as shown in the below image.

Common Computer Software Toolbars

There are various common computer software toolbars:

1. App bar
2. Bar chart
3. Barcode
4. Bookmarks bar
5. Command bar
6. Formatting bar
7. Formula bar
8. Menu bar
9. Navigation bar
10. Places bar
11. Scroll bar
12. Split bar
13. Status bar
14. Title bar

1. App Bar: - The toolbar of Windows 8.

2. Bar chart: - A bar chart contains the horizontal or vertical bars.

3. Barcode: - A Barcode is a sequence of the line which recognizes a product, address or other information.

4. Bookmarks Bar: - A bookmark bar is the bar that displays often visited bookmarks or favorites.

5. Command Bar: - A command bar is the bar that shows the commands which are available in the program.

6. Formatting Toolbar: - A formatting toolbar is a toolbar that displays the options of text formatting.

7. Formula Bar: - Formula bar is the bar which is present in the spreadsheet program. With the help of the formula bar, we can edit the formula.

8. Menu Bar: - Menu Bar is present at the screen's top, and it gives access to other menus.

9. Navigation Bar: - Navigation Bar provides access to all the navigation features in the browser.

10. Places Bar: - Places bar comprises folders, like Desktop, Networks, History, Favorites, My documents and other custom shortcuts, which is helpful in file access.

11. Progress Bar: - A progress bar is a graphical control component that can be used to visualize the progression of an all-encompassing computer operation, for example, installation, download, etc.

12. Scroll Bar: - Scroll bar is used to scroll the page, and it is present at the screen's side or the bottom of the screen.

13. Split Bar: - A split bar is the bar which is used to split the windows into various parts.

14. Status Bar: - A status bar is present at the window's bottom. The Status bar displays status information. In other words, the status bar is defined as a graphical control component that represents a data region normally found at the window's bottom. It can be separated into segments to group information.

Computer Hardware Bars

There are various types of computer hardware bars:

1. Port bar
2. Spacebar

1. Port Bar: - A port bar is a bar through which we can connect our laptop or PC to other devices.

2. Spacebar: - Spacebar is a key on the keyboard which is used to create space.

Floating Toolbar

A floating toolbar is a toolbar which we can move around the screen. A floating toolbar is not like an old-style toolbar, which is fixed in one place.

Different Types of Toolbars on a Window

There are various types of toolbars on a window:

1. Application toolbar
2. Quick access toolbar
3. Search toolbar
4. Bookmarks toolbar
5. Thumbnail toolbar

1. Application Toolbar: - Application toolbar is the toolbar that works like a Windows taskbar. The software programs use an application toolbar extensively. The application toolbar is anchored to section a window's edge that separates it from a palette, frequently a dialog box which appears with a right-click. Usually, the application toolbar contains buttons which provide access to other Windows, shortcuts or applications inside the program like "Update", "View", and "Home".

2. Quick Access Toolbar: - However the toolbars and menus were deleted by Microsoft in Office instead of "Ribbon," the Quick Access Toolbar is prominently still exist. A customizable toolbar, which we are able to find either above or underneath the Ribbon, is a bunch of our often-used commands. It doesn't make a difference on which ribbon the command is discovered; it generally shows up for your simple access.

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3. Search Toolbar: - There are various search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo!, provide clients a toolbar in order to attach to the browser window's top. On the basis of the likings which we select, we can utilize the toolbar to rapidly search or access the features of the search engine which we liked including mail, news and climate. These types of toolbars also give us access to the functionality which is like various processing programs like "File", "Save", and "Edit". There are various browser toolbars which offer spam controls, and instant message access.

4. Bookmarks Toolbar: - Called bookmarks in Firefox and Chrome and favorites in Internet Explorer, most of the browsers contain a spot to show often accessed bookmarks. At the point when we save a bookmark, we can select to put it on the bookmark bar, or we can move it there sometime in the future. Save websites, feeds and folders on the toolbar and organize them simply. A "Top choices" icon, for example, a star, is frequently included with the Bookmarks toolbar, offering us with simple access to the websites which we liked most.

5. Thumbnail Toolbar: - A thumbnail toolbar discovered solely in Windows 7 that gives immediate access to the window's key commands via an embedded toolbar in the thumbnail. In this toolbar, the limit of maximum buttons is seven. It is just accessible if the designer of the application has comprised the feature of the toolbar; it is not a toolbar which you can decide to show.

Is this the Right User Interface?

To decide this, consider the following questions:

1. Are the Commands Well Represented by the Icons?

Generally, rather than text labels, icons are used to represent the toolbar buttons (even though various toolbar buttons use both), while in order to represent the menu commands, text is used. If command icons are not self-explanatory and high quality then the menu bar is a good choice.

2. Are there a Small number of Frequently used Commands?

Like menu bars, the toolbar cannot handle many commands, so it works well to proficiently access a small number of efficiently used commands.

3. Is the Window a Primary Window?

For primary windows, the toolbar work well but if we talk about secondary windows, it is generally heavier. For secondary windows, menu buttons, command buttons and links are used.

Toolbars vs. Menu Bars

In the following ways, toolbars are different from menu bars:

• Immediacy
  When we click on a toolbar command, it has an immediate effect but additional input is required for menu commands.
• Frequency
  Toolbars only show those commands which are frequently used. While in the case of menu bars, catalog every top-level command within a program.
• Directness
  With one click, toolbar command is invoked, while the menu bar command needs to navigate via the menu.
• Number and Density
  The screen space which is needed by a toolbar is relative to its number of command and that space is constantly utilized, even if there are no commands. Therefore, toolbars should utilize their space effectively. Paradoxically, menu bar commands are ordinarily hidden from view and the hierarchical structure of toolbar permits for any number of commands.
• Recognizable and Distinguishable
  For the commands which are frequently used by the users, users have to remember the attributes of the toolbar button such as color, shape, location. By using well-designed toolbars, users are able to quickly find the commands although if the users are not able to remember the particular icon symbol. On the other end, users remember locations of frequently used command, but for making selections depend on the command labels.
  In the case of toolbar commands, specific locations, colors and shapes support to make the icon distinct and recognizable.
  But in the case of menu bar commands, users rely on the labels of the menu bar.
• Self-Explanatory: - A well-made toolbars require an icon, which is typically self-explanatory because by using only tooltips, users cannot find the commands efficiently. However, the toolbar still works well if some less frequently used commands are not self-explanatory.
  Notwithstanding, toolbars still function admirably if some frequently used commands are not self-explanatory.

Usage Patterns of Toolbars

There are various usage patterns of toolbars:

1. Primary toolbars
2. Supplemental toolbars
3. Toolbar menus
4. Customizable toolbars
5. Palette windows

1. Primary Toolbars: - Primary toolbars are the toolbars which are designed to work without a menu bar, either removed or hidden.

2. upplemental Toolbars: - The toolbars which are created to work with a menu bar are known as supplement toolbars.

3. Toolbar Menus: - Toolbar menus are the toolbars which contain commands mainly split buttons, and menu buttons with only some direct commands.

4. Customizable Toolbars: - The toolbars which can be customized by the users are known as customizable toolbars. In customizable toolbars, users can add or remove toolbars, modify the location and size of the toolbars.

5. Palette Windows: - It is a modeless dialog box which presents an array of commands. The palette windows are the unlocked toolbars.

Toolbars have the following styles:

1. Unlabeled icons
2. Large unlabeled icons
3. Labeled icons
4. Partial toolbars
5. Large partial toolbars

1. Unlabeled Icons: - Unlabeled icons style is used when the program is used frequently, or there are various buttons to the label. With unlabeled icons style, programs with complex usefulness can have numerous rows, and consequently, this style is the only style which should be modifiable. Using this style, if some command buttons are frequently used then it can be labeled.

2. Large Unlabeled Icons: - Large unlabeled icons is a row of large unlabeled icon buttons. We can utilize this style for easy utilities, which are simply identifiable icons and commonly run-in small windows.

3. Labeled Icons: - Labeled icons is a row of small labeled icons. This style is used if there are only few commands or if the program is not used often. In this style there is always one row. Labeled icons are also used in those toolbars which contains some buttons where each button may have a text label.

4. Partial Toolbars: - Partial toolbars are a partial row of small icons which is used to save space if the complete toolbar is not needed. For Windows, we can use this style with a search box, navigating buttons and tabs to remove unnecessary weight at the Window's top.

5. Large Partial Toolbars: - In this style, there is a partial row of large icons and in order to save a space it is used, if the complete toolbar is not required. We can utilize this style for easy utilities, which contains navigation buttons and a search box in order to remove needless weight at the Window's top.

Toolbar controls have various usage patterns:

1. Command icon buttons
2. Mode icon buttons
3. Property icon buttons
4. Labeled icon buttons
5. Menu buttons
6. Split buttons
7. Drop-down lists

1. Command Icon Buttons: - When we click on the command button, it will take instant action.

2. Mode Icons Buttons: - Clicking a mode enters the selected mode.

3. Property Icon Buttons: - The status of the property button indicates the status of the presently selected objects, if any. The alteration to the selected objects is applied by clicking on the button.

4. Labeled Icon Buttons: - Labeled icon buttons are used for those toolbar buttons which are not self-explanatory enough and are frequently used.

5. Menu Buttons: - The menu buttons are a common button that is used to present a small group of relevant commands.

6. Split Buttons: - Split button is a command button which is used to consolidate command variations particularly if some command is used frequently.

7. Drop-Down Lists: - It is used to display and modify a property.

Toolbar's Controls and Commands

1. Select direct controls

Use the buttons of the toolbar in the following sequence:

• Icon button: Direct and takes up less space.
• Labeled icon button: Direct but consume more space.
• Split button: Direct for those commands which is common but manages variations of command.
• Menu button: Indirect but presents various commands.

2. Select the most often used commands

For Primary Toolbars, Give Complete Commands

The primary toolbar does not need to be completely like the menu bars, yet they need to give all the commands that are not promptly searchable somewhere else. The commands are not required for the primary toolbar:

• Commands which are straightforwardly on the UI itself.
• Commands which can be accessed via context menus.
• Standard, notable orders such as Copy, Cut and Paste.

For Supplemental Toolbars, Offer Commands Which are Used Most Often: Menu bar commands are those commands which are the superset of the toolbar's commands. Therefore, we do not need to give it all. Concentrate on the fast, appropriate access of the command and rest of others are skipped.

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