What is a software toolbar? It is the line, or more often lines, of symbols that appear when a software program is opened. The software manufactures supply them as aids for the operation of the program.

They are made up from a collection of icons that appear at the top or sometimes the side of the program. Some of these icons are common to many programs. For example a small printer icon opens up the printing options and the disc icon will save to the file.

These icons then represent a command to operate a function of the program and are activated by the mouse buttons when picked out by the screen cursor again mouse controlled. Touch screens or pads replace the function of the mouse in some computers. In some ways they could be thought of as a graphic representation of some of the commands that are available in the pull down menus at the top of the screen for most programs.

In the early days of personal computing programs were almost always keyboard operated. This meant that the user had to either remember the commands or have in front of them a list of commands to be able to use the program. These were often activated by using a combination of letters and shift or control keys on the key board. Then came pull down menus followed by the tool bars.

Most software can still be operated off the keyboard and an experienced user may find it faster to still use this method. Using the tool bar requires the operator to move from the keyboard to the mouse, then move the cursor to the tool bar and then select the correct icon.

For intermittent users or users that might use a variety of different programs regularly, remembering a whole lot of commands is not desirable. For them the tool bar is a very much appreciated and well used option.

One of the problems that the tool bar has brought is screen space. It is not unusual for the operators of some programs to have less than half the screen showing the work space. The rest of the screen can be covered in toolbars. This is one of the reasons that screens have grown in size.

In the early days of the personal computer a fourteen inch screen was the standard. Now it is more like twenty two inches or more. Many operators use 2 screens; one as a work space and the other for the icons. The advancement of touch screen technology may see screens get even bigger as many recent television programs portray.

The software toolbar is then a very welcome part of any modern computer program. The ability to turn them off and on particularly if there are a number of them adds to their usability. Serious program users can in most cases customize the bar by choosing the icons that appear in it. This means that screen becomes less cluttered by seldom used icons leaving a more usable work space.

To create toolbar that fits your needs and wants visit the leaders in software toolbar, sidebar and browser extensions development.

To create toolbar that fits your needs and wants visit the leaders in software toolbar, sidebar and browser extensions development.
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Author Bio: To create toolbar that fits your needs and wants visit the leaders in software toolbar, sidebar and browser extensions development.

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: Toolbar,Software,add-on,internet,computers,technology,browsers,website,html,javascript,applications,