System tray terminology

[Roedy Green]

In Vista, there is a bar across the bottom of the screen. It contains
tiny icons. The ones on the left are frequently used but currently
unrunning programs.

The ones in the middle represent running programs.

The ones on the right represent system tasks, e.g.
screen/keyboard/mouse/volume controls.

So questions.

What do you call this thing?

Do you have names for the three sections?

Are there equivalents on other OSes/GUIs?

What are they called there?

I have heard the terms "system tray" "task bar" "notification area".
What precisely do each of these terms refer to?

I am interested both in official terminology and common use.
--

 

[Sinner]

In Vista, there is a bar across the bottom of the screen. It contains
tiny icons. The ones on the left are frequently used but currently
unrunning programs.

The ones in the middle represent running programs.

The ones on the right represent system tasks, e.g.
screen/keyboard/mouse/volume controls.

So questions.

What do you call this thing?

Do you have names for the three sections?

Are there equivalents on other OSes/GUIs?

What are they called there?

I have heard the terms "system tray" "task bar" "notification area".
What precisely do each of these terms refer to?

I am interested both in official terminology and common use.

The Bar is the Task Bar.


The icons on the left are, in all probability, the Quicklaunch toolbar. You
can find out by right-clicking a blank space on the task bar, selecting
toolbars and see if Quicklaunch is checked. I usually hide the quicklaunch
toolbar as a matter of personal preference.

The icons in the tray may be running services, or active programs. Some
programs put an icon in the tray and minimize to it rather than the task
bar. Window Washer and DVDFab Platinum are good examples.

 

[David B.]

The task bar is the entire bar, system tray and notification area are the
same thing.

 

[Rockn]

It is a TaskBar and has been for quite some time. Same terminology it has
always been.

 

[oscar]

The entire bottom bar is the Task Bar.
It can be broken up into categories like this:
The big Windows button on the far left is the Start menu or Start button.
Small Icons on the far right of Task Bar is the Notifiation area (also
called System Tray).
Small icons on the far left and to the right of the Start button is Quick
Launch and it's a toolbar.
Rectangular "Buttons" in between Quick Launch and Notification area are
called Taskbar Buttons that show you what programs of documents are open.

If you right click on the Taskbar you'll find some options such as adding
items to Quick Launch and or creating your own toolbars on the taskbar.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You are describing the Taskbar. The small icons on the left are QuickLaunch
icons and they occupy the QuickLaunch toolbar. They are shortcuts to
programs. The small icons on the right are notification icons and can be
running programs or services, or notices of actions taken or required, or
utilities such as the clock or volume mixer (speaker). They are not
shortcuts but controls.