Menus and toolbars
You can use menus and toolbars to provide users with specific actions for a highlighted item or screen. The following table provides a high-level overview of each type of menu and toolbar, with suggestions on how you can use these items together in an application.
|
Full menu |
Use |
Example |
 |
Allows users to perform all actions for a screen in an application. |
Group similar (but not critical) menu items in a submenu to help users find actions in the full menu more easily. |
|
Submenu |
Use |
Example |
 |
Allows users to find frequently used items in the full menu more easily. |
Move related, less frequently used menu items out of the full menu into a submenu. |
|
Pop-up menu |
Use |
Example |
 |
Allows users to perform the most common actions for a highlighted item quickly. |
Use a pop-up menu instead of a toolbar for actions specific to a highlighted item. Avoid including the same action in a pop-up menu and a toolbar unless the actions are frequent. |
|
Toolbar |
Use |
Example |
 |
Provides a quick and easy way for users to access the most frequent actions for a screen or an application on a touch screen device. |
Use a toolbar instead of a pop-up menu for actions associated with a screen or if users must repeatedly perform an action. Avoid including the same action in both a pop-up menu and a toolbar unless the actions are frequent. |
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